Joan Garcia's Injury Update Ahead of Sevilla Match

Joan Garcia has handed Barcelona a scare just days before their trip to Sevilla, but early signs point to relief rather than crisis.

The goalkeeper underwent medical tests on Thursday morning after feeling pain in his right knee during Wednesday’s win over Racing Santander. The problem came from an innocuous moment in heavy rain, when he slipped on the soaked turf while chasing down a loose ball behind his own goal.

He played on until the break, but the awkward movement was enough for Barcelona’s staff to pull him at halftime as a precaution. Wojciech Szczesny stepped in for the second half and saw out the victory.

Initial scans at the training ground eased fears of a serious setback. Crucially for the club, the discomfort is in Garcia’s right knee, not the left leg that required surgery last season. That detail alone changed the mood around the training complex.

Barcelona later issued a brief medical note: “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 collides with the calendar. Sevilla away at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan looms on Saturday, leaving Hansi Flick with just 48 hours between tests and kick-off to make a call.

Flick has a reputation: he does not gamble with fitness on the eve of international breaks. With a three-week pause coming up, the German is unlikely to push his No. 1 into a risky return for a single league fixture, no matter how demanding the venue.

So the decision in goal is suddenly wide open. Szczesny, who came on against Racing and is already integrated into the back line, stands as the logical favourite to start in Andalusia. The Pole offers experience, calm and, after Wednesday, a touch of continuity.

There is another option. Dominik Livakovic, Croatia’s first-choice goalkeeper, is still waiting for his first official appearance in Blaugrana colours. A debut in one of La Liga’s most intense stadiums would be a bold call, but not an unimaginable one for a coach who values competition in every position.

Barcelona will run one final fitness check on Garcia in their last training session before travelling south. If there is the slightest doubt, the plan is clear: hold him back and let the international break do its work. Three full weeks to recover is a luxury most keepers do not get mid-season.

For now, the gloves are effectively on the table. Szczesny has the edge, Livakovic waits in the wings, and Garcia watches the clock. On Friday, in his pre-match press conference, Flick will reveal which way he intends to lean — and, perhaps, which goalkeeper he truly trusts for the battles to come.