FC Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia suffers knee injury

FC Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia has sustained a knee injury during a La Liga match against Racing Santander. The 25-year-old was forced to leave the pitch at halftime after slipping while retrieving a ball, an incident that initially caused significant concern regarding the severity of the injury.

Following medical evaluations, the club released an optimistic update stating that Garcia is experiencing ‘mild discomfort in his right knee.’ Scans revealed localized bone edema but confirmed there is no structural meniscus involvement, meaning the injury is not related to the surgical procedure he underwent last season. While he may miss the upcoming match against Sevilla to recover during the international break, his exact return date remains dependent on his evolution.

In Garcia's absence, Wojciech Szczesny has stepped in as the primary option. Szczesny, who replaced Garcia during the Racing Santander match, faced scrutiny following a 4-1 loss to Sevilla in a subsequent fixture. Despite the pressure, head coach Hansi Flick has defended the veteran goalkeeper, noting that errors are part of the game and emphasizing that the team must consider the readiness of both Szczesny and Dominik Livakovic for upcoming fixtures, including the Champions League match against Galatasaray.