Marc-Andre Ter Stegen Shows He's Barcelona's Future Against Bayer Leverkusen

This was more like it from Marc-Andre ter Stegen. 

The German goalkeeper was still unable to keep a clean sheet—having conceded in every single game he has played this season, bar the two against BATE Borisov—but he was Barcelona's stand-out player as they drew 1-1 at Bayer Leverkusen in their final Champions League group game.

He made nine saves and had no chance with Javier Hernandez's goal, left all at sea by his defence before the Mexican blasted home after 23 minutes.

Ter Stegen didn't put a foot out of line, and by the end, he was Barcelona's only line of defence, beating away fierce efforts by Karim Bellarabi and making an excellent late save from Hernandez to prevent the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man from winning it at the death.

The jury has been out on Ter Stegen, with some notable errors costing the club goals earlier this season.

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He plays with an eccentric style which he insists he will not change, where he's often quick out of the box to loose balls and doesn't mind taking on opponents if the situation feels right.

Some Barcelona fans feel it's a suitable way to play in an attacking side like this, others can't stand the jitters it gives them when he dashes off his line.

In this game, the 23-year-old didn't do anything to worry even the most fearful of Blaugrana followers, but that was mainly because Barcelona had much less of the ball than usual.

Playing with a reserve side, bar Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba, the team failed to dominate proceedings and Bayer Leverkusen were much the better team.

That forced Barcelona back into their own half a lot and meant there was no room and even less cause for Ter Stegen to try any risks. He showed he can keep goal well in a more conventional style, as well as his own.

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Ter Stegen was looking forward to the game, attended by his parents, who took advantage of the goalkeeper's return to home soil.

At a press conference before the game, per Sport, he said:

"

I am happy to be close to home, just an hour away. My family are coming to see me and it is a special game for me and I want to win.

I know the fans from playing in Germany and I hope we get a good welcome.

It is always interesting to discover a new set of fans like I am at the moment in Barcelona. We have been to Rome and there they have a different type of fans as well.

"

With Roma drawing 0-0 against BATE Borisov, Bayer Leverkusen could have qualified for the Champions League last 16, but only a hyperactive Ter Stegen kept them out.

Only his final save from Hernandez was brilliant, but the rest were perfectly executed with the minimum of fuss.

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The question for Luis Enrique is now if Ter Stegen is picked in the Club World Cup, or if Claudio Bravo goes between the sticks.

Both last season and this, the Chilean has been used for league fixtures with the German picked in Europe and the Copa de Rey.

But given the potential and promise he's showing, perhaps it's worth giving Ter Stegen as much time as possible on the pitch.