Chelsea vs Barcelona - Highlighting Ter Stegen's importance for Champions League clash

When the Champions League draw was made, and Chelsea were teamed up against Barcelona, home fans couldn’t help but reminisce over the last time these two teams met in the competition. Chelsea secured an unlikely smash-and-grab win in the semi-final to secure a final meeting with Bayern Munich on their way to a surprise triumph. 

Fast-forward to the present day and Chelsea again come into a Champions League meeting with Barcelona as underdogs. Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona side have been nigh-on unstoppable since the start of the La Liga campaign, losing just the once between an opening weekend 2-0 win over Real Betis and now, that coming in a 1-0 Copa Del Rey loss to rivals Espanyol. 

Barcelona are the second favourites to lift the Champions League in May, but their two-legged affair with Chelsea won’t be a simple walk in the park. The Blues have the personnel to hurt any side on their day, yet they face an uphill struggle to break down this resolute Barcelona side. 

Following the sale of Claudio Bravo to Manchester City, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was understandably instilled as Barcelona’s number one and hasn’t disappointed. Indeed, his save success rate (85.7%) is bettered only by Jan Oblak (91.9%) of goalkeepers to make three or more appearances in Europe’s top five leagues this season. 

What’s more, only Oblak (16) has kept more clean sheets than Ter Stegen (15) in La Liga this term and Chelsea will have their work cut out if they are to find a way past the German shotstopper. The Blues aren’t devoid of offensive talent, with head coach Antonio Conte able to call upon Eden Hazard, Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud in the final third, but they’ll need to be on top of their game to find a way past Ter Stegen. 

The 25-year-old has conceded just 12 goals in 29 La Liga and Champions League appearances this season and has shipped two or more goals in just two of those 29 outings. Barcelona, meanwhile, have failed to score in just three La Liga and Champions League matches this term, though admittedly, two of those came in European competition. 

There are goals in this Barcelona side, yet while Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi will draw plenty of attention at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, Ter Stegen has a key role to play between the sticks as the Blaugrana seek a first leg advantage.