Overview
- Joan Garcia slipped chasing a ball and was substituted at half‑time of Barcelona’s match with Racing Santander, an event reported on Wednesday and followed by immediate medical checks.
- The club issued an official update saying Garcia is experiencing mild right‑knee discomfort and that his return will depend on the injury’s evolution.
- Several media outlets report Thursday scans showed a meniscus issue and estimate a roughly three‑week layoff with no surgery expected, a timeline that the club has not formally confirmed.
- Barcelona have ruled Garcia out of Saturday’s trip to Sevilla, Hansi Flick has backed Wojciech Szczęsny as the short‑term deputy with Dominik Livaković available, and 18‑year‑old Iker Rodriguez has been called up as emergency cover.
- Garcia’s injury draws extra caution because he had meniscus surgery on the other knee last season, and the upcoming international break gives him time to recover without causing a prolonged gap in Barcelona’s schedule.