Gerard Pique and Ter Stegen were involved in a tense exchange with Luis Suarez during the goalless draw between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Neither side were able to find a winner during the clash, and it means Real Madrid will go top of the league if they beat Sevilla on Sunday with only two weeks of the campaign remaining.
The game was the first time Suarez had returned to the Nou Camp since his transfer from Barca to Atletico, and the Uruguayan forward wasted no time in getting involved in the action as he looked to prove a point to his former team.
At one point in the first-half, Suarez ran onto a long ball before falling dramatically under the challenge of Ter Stegen inside the box seeking a penalty after the Barca keeper appeared to make minimal contact with his fist.
Ter Stegen quickly rushed towards his old teammate as he lay stricken on the floor, furiously shouting “Luis!”
Pique came over and got involved, calling Suarez “fatty” in a brutal dig. The Barca defender said: “come on, fatty, don’t mess with us.”
Suarez eventually rose to his feet clutching his head, asking Ter Stegen: “did you make contact or not?” And the German keeper replied: “it was my hand. If it is my foot ok, but come on…”
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Speaking after game, Pique said: “We expected to win, but we are still alive. We had more chances and we competed well.
“We are alive, and based on how La Liga is playing out and I think we still have options. “Anything can happen, because that is what happens in La Liga.
“It is true that Real Madrid, if they win all four games, will be champions, but it will be difficult. “I think by winning our three remaining games we have options. Our idea is to win every game and compete until the end.”
