No Messi, no problem: Barcelona's other saviour Ter Stegen both stops and create goals!

The German produced a sensational save to keep Saturday's game at Getafe level before setting Luis Suarez up for the opener in a vital 2-0 win

Even in a sport renowned for embarrassing tantrums, Uli Hoeness' threat to block Bayern Munich players from playing for Germany must rank as one of the most ludicrous.

The Bavarian club's president considered taking such a drastic step because of reports that Marc-Andre ter Stegen might displace his beloved Manuel Neuer as the national team's first-choice goalkeeper.

"We would never accept that," Hoeness fumed.

There can't be many other people in the game today who would have an issue with Ter-Stegen being ranked above his compatriot.

Certainly, those who follow La Liga would struggle to think of a better goalkeeper than Barcelona's No.1.

Ter Stegen may not make many headlines – it is not easy to steal some of the limelight in a star-studded team led by Lionel Messi – but the German has repeatedly come to the Blaugrana's rescue over the past five years.

He was at it again in a 2-0 win at Getafe on Saturday and this time where was no Messi. Ansu Fati wasn't even in attendance, with the youngster also ruled out through injury.

Luis Suarez may have bagged a timely goal after being targeted by the Camp Nou boo boys during the week, while Junior Firpo netted his first for the club.

However, this vital victory – which lifts Barcelona into second place in the Liga standings ahead of the Madrid derby on Saturday night – was all about Ter Stegen, particularly as Ousmane Dembele almost inevitably missed out through injury, Antoine Griezmann was once again anonymous away from home, and Clement Lenglet had one of those games in which he plays like a man on a mission to get sent off.

It was the 27-year-old who maintained parity when the hosts were piling on the pressure in the first half, making a terrific one-on-one save from Angel Rodriguez, who had been put clean through on goal.

Then, just four minutes before the break, Ter Stegen came flying out of his goal to snuff out some danger – like the confident, attentive sweeper-keeper that he is – before playing a sublime ball over the top that Suarez latched on to before coolly lifting over David Soria's head.

In doing so, the German became the first Barcelona goalkeeper to register a Liga assist in the 21st century.

After the interval, he got back to doing what he does best – making saves.

It was just as well he was on top form, because while Barca doubled their advantage when Junior Firpo side-footed home a rebound from a Carles Perez shot, they came under intense pressure following Lenglet's dismissal for a second yellow card with 10 minutes to go in a dreadfully scrappy, foul-ridden game.

Ter Stegen, though, was equal to everything Getafe through to keep his clean sheet and remind everyone that there are few better goalkeepers in the world right now – and certainly none in Germany...