Barcelona Await Late Joan Garcia Fitness Verdict for Sevilla Clash
Barcelona have confirmed Joan Garcia is being monitored for mild discomfort in his right knee, leaving his place for Saturday’s trip to Sevilla unresolved.
Garcia faces late fitness call
The goalkeeper underwent medical checks on Thursday after coming off at half-time in Wednesday’s win over Racing Santander. Early examinations ruled out a serious problem, offering Barcelona encouragement, but the short turnaround before the match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan means no decision has yet been made.
Garcia hurt his knee after slipping on rain-soaked ground while collecting a ball behind his goal during heavy rainfall. He completed the opening half before being substituted as a precaution.
Barcelona stressed that the issue concerns his right knee. It is not connected to the left-leg injury that required surgery last season.
The club said: “First-team player Joan Garcia is experiencing mild discomfort in his right knee. His availability will depend on the evolution of the injury.”
How the injury developed
- Garcia slipped while retrieving the ball behind his goal against Racing Santander.
- He remained on the pitch until the interval despite the discomfort.
- Wojciech Szczesny replaced him for the second half.
- Thursday’s scans excluded a major injury, but Barcelona kept his Sevilla status open.
- A final assessment is scheduled before the squad travels to Andalusia.
Flick weighs goalkeeper options
Hansi Flick has only around 48 hours between Garcia’s tests and kick-off in Seville. The Barcelona coach is not expected to gamble on the goalkeeper, particularly with an international break immediately after the fixture.
Szczesny is the leading candidate to start if Garcia is unavailable. The experienced Pole was already called into action against Racing and would be the straightforward continuity option.
Flick could also choose Dominik Livakovic, although the Croatia international is still awaiting his first competitive appearance for Barcelona since arriving in the summer.
The manager is due to address the goalkeeper situation at Friday’s pre-match press conference. Should Garcia be left out against Sevilla, he would have three weeks to recover during the break.
Key takeaways
- Garcia’s injury is in his right knee, not the left leg previously operated on.
- Medical tests have not found a severe injury.
- Barcelona will make a final call after their last training session.
- Szczesny is currently best placed to deputise at Sevilla.
- Livakovic remains an alternative but has yet to make his official Barcelona debut.
