Barcelona extends perfect start in Spanish league with 6th win but loses Ter Stegen
Associated PressMADRID — Barcelona extended its perfect start to the Spanish league season but lost goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with a serious knee injury on Sunday. Barcelona routed host Villarreal 5-1 to pick up its sixth straight victory in the competition, but saw captain Ter Stegen leave the match on a stretcher just before halftime after his right knee buckled when he fell awkwardly after going up for a ball crossed into the area. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who missed most of last season with a similar injury, showed his support to Ter Stegen with a message on X, saying that it hurt to see his colleague leave the field like that and that he hoped he would recover soon. Atletico Madrid held Atletico Madrid missed a chance to keep pace with Barcelona after a 1-1 draw with Madrid rival Rayo Vallecano.