It will be an intense return to Borussia Park for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen while the Catalan giants look to cope without Lionel Messi.
Argentine wizard Messi is out of action because of a hamstring injury, and he will not be featuring for Barcelona in their Champions League game against Borussia Monchengladbach.
The trip to Germany will be a homecoming of sorts for keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, who joined the Blaugrana from Monchengladbach in 2014 after spending four seasons with Die Borrusen. Manager Luis Enrique has backed him to do well on his return.
“This happens sometimes in a player’s career and it will certainly be nice for him,” said Enrique ahead of the game, according to the official club website.
“Ter Stegen faced the challenge of coming to Barça knowing how difficult it would be and he has improved his performance and he must continue to do so, because that is the objective of any professional.”
Apart from Messi, the team is set to consist of all of Barcelona’s first choice players. Ter Stegen will play behind a back four of Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and Sergi Roberto.
The midfield engine that has been instrumental in so many of Barcelona’s recent triumphs is also set to be unchanged, as Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic will look to dictate the pace of the game and control the match at Borussia Park.
The prolific pair of Neymar and Luis Suarez will start up front, but it remains to be seen who Enrique deploys along with them. Arda Turan will be hoping to get a look in, while new signing Paca Alcacer is also in the running for his first Champions League start with Barca. However, Enrique could also play the in-form Brazilian Rafinha further up front as well.
