Barcelona's Joan Garcia Injury Update: Goalkeeper's Availability in Doubt
Barcelona have been handed a nervy wait over Joan Garcia after the goalkeeper underwent tests on a right-knee problem picked up in the rain-soaked win over Racing Santander.
The 23-year-old slipped on the slick surface while chasing down a ball behind his goal on Wednesday night, jarring his knee as he skidded across the wet turf. He played on until the break, but the awkward movement was enough for the medical staff to pull him at halftime as a precaution.
Wojciech Szczesny stepped in for the second half and saw out the victory, immediately thrust back into the spotlight.
Relief in scans – but Sevilla in doubt
Barcelona’s doctors moved quickly on Thursday morning. According to Marca, initial examinations at the training ground eased fears of a major setback, with scans ruling out a serious injury.
The club later confirmed the issue is in Garcia’s right knee, not the left leg that required surgery last season. That detail alone brought a collective sigh of relief inside the dressing room.
The official statement was brief and cautious: “First-team player Joan Garcia is experiencing mild discomfort in his right knee. His availability will depend on the evolution of the injury.”
That evolution now has a 48-hour window.
With Sevilla looming at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday, time is tight. Garcia’s participation is still up in the air, and the decision could go right down to the final training session before the squad travels to Andalusia.
Flick’s dilemma between Szczesny and Livakovic
Hansi Flick now has a classic goalkeeper call on his hands, wrapped in a wider calendar problem. The international break sits just around the corner, and the German coach has a clear reputation: he does not gamble on players’ fitness with a long pause ahead.
That stance points in one direction. If there is any doubt, Garcia will not be rushed.
Szczesny, who came on at halftime against Racing and handled the job without fuss, is the natural favourite to start in Seville. He knows the stage, he knows the pressure, and he has already been thrown into the fire this week.
The alternative is a bold one. Dominik Livakovic, Croatia’s No. 1 and a summer signing, is still waiting to make his competitive debut in Blaugrana colours. A cauldron like the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is a ruthless place for a first outing, but it is also the sort of test elite goalkeepers relish.
Flick must weigh rhythm against opportunity, security against long-term planning.
Final test before a three-week window
Barcelona will put Garcia through one more fitness check in their last session before departure. If the knee reacts, if there is any sign of instability or lingering pain, the decision almost makes itself.
Hold him back now, and Garcia gains three full weeks to reset during the international break. Push him too soon, and a minor scare could turn into a long-running storyline.
For now, all signs point to Szczesny standing between the posts in Seville, with Livakovic waiting in the wings and Garcia watching on.
On Friday, Flick will sit in front of the cameras and confirm his choice. The real question is whether this weekend becomes just a brief detour in Garcia’s rise, or the moment that reopens the battle for Barcelona’s No. 1 shirt.
