Ter Stegen returns to Barca squad for Copa final after knee injury

Marc Andre Ter Stegen has officially made a return to the Barcelona squad for the first time since he sustained a knee injury last August.

The German has now been officially handed medical clearance by the club after making his return to team training about a fortnight ago.

For Barcelona’s Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, Stegen looks unlikely to be in the sticks, yet he will be glad to make a return to the team, whose gaze is upon a third treble in their history.

Should Barcelona edge Real Madrid, it would be Stegen’s fifth Copa title as a Blaugrana after he joined the Catalans a decade ago in the 2014/15 season.

As to whether he would regain his spot as first choice goalkeeper in the next games looks uncertain, but he could make a return in La Liga if Barca extend their lead at the top to become champions before the end of the campaign.

The return of Ter Stegen also marks a huge blow for Inaki Pena, who has been out of favor under Hansi Flick this year due to disciplinary issues and the emergency signing of Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny.