Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury during FC Barcelona's league match at FC Villarreal.

What happened?

The 32-year-old goalkeeper landed on his right leg during a defensive action and immediately fell to the turf.

He was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

The injury was diagnosed as a complete tear of the patellar tendon, which will require surgery.

Why it matters for Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Ter Stegen was set to play in goal for Germany after Manuel Neuer's retirement, but this injury will keep him out for months.

National team coach Julian Nagelsmann described the news as a big shock and wished Ter Stegen a speedy recovery.

Ter Stegen had played 42 international matches for Germany and was Nagelsmann's clear number one.

What comes next?

Nagelsmann plans to name his squad for the October games next week, and by then, there will be a signal as to how he intends to bridge Ter Stegen's absence.

Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel were recently in the squad as back-ups, but neither has played an international match.

A comeback for Neuer is also not ruled out in principle, but he is currently recovering from a thigh injury.

Ter Stegen's injury is a blow to FC Barcelona, who have been coached by Hansi Flick since this season.

The team had been performing well, winning six of their first six league games, but this injury will be a significant setback.

Hansi Flick said the team was happy about the win but sad about the injury, and Ter Stegen's colleague Thibaut Courtois also expressed his sympathy.

The injury occurred on Sunday evening during the 5-1 win over Villarreal, and Ter Stegen underwent surgery on Monday.

He will be out for a long time, but the exact timeline for his recovery is not yet clear.

The German national team will play their next Nations League games on October 11 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and three days later in Munich against the Netherlands.

Ter Stegen's absence will be felt, but the team will have to find a way to move forward without him.

The injury is a significant setback for Ter Stegen, but he will receive support from his teammates and coaches as he begins his recovery.

He had become captain of FC Barcelona and was performing well, but this injury will be a challenge for him to overcome.

Ter Stegen's determination and hard work will be crucial in his recovery, and he will be eager to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.

The road to recovery will be long, but Ter Stegen is a talented and dedicated player who will do everything he can to return to his best form.

He will have to work hard to regain his fitness and form, but he has the support of his team and coaches.

The injury may be a setback, but it will not define Ter Stegen's career, and he will be back on the pitch soon.

For now, he will have to focus on his recovery and take things one step at a time.

The German national team and FC Barcelona will have to find a way to move forward without him, but they will be eager to have him back as soon as possible.

Ter Stegen's injury is a blow, but it will not break him, and he will come back stronger than ever.

He will have to be patient and take his time, but he will be back on the pitch soon, and he will be eager to make up for lost time.

The wait will be long, but Ter Stegen will be back, and he will be better than ever.

He will have to work hard to get back to his best form, but he is a talented and dedicated player who will do everything he can to succeed.

The injury may be a setback, but it will not hold Ter Stegen back, and he will be back on the pitch soon, ready to take on the challenge.

Ter Stegen's recovery will be a long and difficult process, but he will have the support of his team and coaches every step of the way.

He will have to be strong and determined, but he will come back from this injury, and he will be better than ever.

The German national team and FC Barcelona will be eager to have him back, and they will be waiting for him to return to the pitch.

Ter Stegen's injury is a blow, but it will not break him, and he will come back stronger than ever, ready to take on the challenge and succeed.