The difficult challenge which Ter Stegen faces from Jan Oblak

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is fronting up to his most difficult season at Barcelona after winning the battle with Claudio Bravo to be the club’s outright number one. 

Ter Stegen has won every title since moving to the club, but the ambitious goalkeeper always wants more. He dreams of becoming Germany’s first choice, an honour bestowed upon Manuel Neuer at the moment. He also wants more recognition and awards individually. 

That will include, in part, winning the Zamora Trophy, which is for the La Liga goalkeeper who concedes the least goals in a campaign. It’s a difficult challenge given how tight Jan Oblak and his Atletico defensive teammates are. 

Oblak has only conceded two goals this season, one against Alaves and one against Barcelona. Both games ended 1-1. He has kept five clean sheets. 

Ter Stegen doesn’t have that sort of regularity. In part due to defensive errors, but also due to his own mistakes. The clearest example of the latter being the goal he gave away against Celta Vigo last weekend. 

There’s a long way to go in the season and Ter Stegen has the character and the quality to improve his numbers. Another thing, though, is Oblak giving up enough ground to let him in. 

Zamora Trophy after seven games:

JAN OBLAK (Atletico) 2 goals conceded

SERGIO ASENJO (Villarreal) 4

ASIER RIESGO (Eibar) 5

DIEGO LOPEZ (Espanyol) 6

SERGIO RICO (Sevilla) 6

MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN (Barça) 6

KIKO CASILLA (Espanyol) 6

GERMAN LUX (Depor) 6

FERNANDO PACHECO (Alavés) 7

DIEGO ALVES (Valencia) 9

CARLOS KAMENI (Malaga) 9

GERONIMO RULLI (R. Sociedad) 9

Clean sheets this season: 

JAN OBLAK (Atletico) 5

SERGIO ASENJO (Villarreal) 3

JON ANDER SERANTES (Leganes) 3

SERGIO RICO (Sevilla) 2

MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN (Barça) 2

KIKO CASILLA (R. Madrid) 2

ASIER RIESGO (Eibar) 2

ADAN (Betis) 2

GERMAN LUX (Depor) 2

FERNANDO PACHECO (Alaves) 2

GERONIMO RULLI (R. Sociedad) 2

SERGIO ALVAREZ (Celta) 2