Joan Garcia Injury Scare: Hansi Flick's Goalkeeper Decision Ahead of Sevilla
Barcelona’s win over Racing Santander on Wednesday night came at a cost, and it had nothing to do with the scoreline or the opposition. It was the weather – and one awkward slip – that turned the spotlight onto Joan Garcia’s right knee and Hansi Flick’s plans for the weekend.
The young goalkeeper felt discomfort after losing his footing on the slick, rain-soaked turf while chasing down a ball behind his own goal. He played on, gritted his teeth through the rest of the first half, but didn’t emerge after the break. The change was labelled precautionary, yet any goalkeeper leaving at halftime always raises alarms.
Wojciech Szczesny stepped in for the second half and saw out the victory, but the real contest now lies between the posts ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sevilla.
Relief for Barça doctors – with a catch
Garcia reported for medical tests on Thursday morning, and the first verdict calmed nerves at the training ground. Initial scans ruled out a serious injury, and crucially, the problem is in his right knee – not the left leg that required surgery last season.
Barcelona later issued a brief, controlled statement: Joan Garcia is experiencing mild discomfort in his right knee, and his availability will depend on how the issue evolves over the next hours.
That single line leaves the door open, but only just. With only 48 hours between the examinations and kick-off at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the margin for error is slim.
Flick’s reputation suggests he won’t push it. The German coach has long been reluctant to gamble with players’ fitness on the eve of international breaks, and Garcia now sits squarely in that risk zone.
Szczesny in pole, Livakovic waiting
The situation hands Flick a delicate but clear tactical dilemma.
He can stick with Szczesny, the man who came off the bench against Racing and is now the logical favourite to start in Andalusia. The Pole knows the role, knows the pressure, and has already been thrown into this particular fire once this week.
Or Flick can turn to Dominik Livakovic, Croatia’s No. 1 and one of the club’s notable summer arrivals, still waiting for his first official minutes in Blaugrana colours. A debut at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan would be no gentle introduction, but goalkeepers of his profile are signed for exactly these stages.
The pressure finally lands on Friday’s training session. Barcelona will run a final fitness check on Garcia before travelling south. If there is the slightest doubt, the decision almost makes itself.
Three weeks on the horizon
If Garcia is held back, the calendar offers him a cushion: three full weeks of recovery over the upcoming international break. No flights, no extra minutes, no rush. For a player with recent surgical history, that timeline matters as much as any single league fixture.
Szczesny, on the other hand, stands to benefit most immediately. His steady second-half display against Racing has nudged him to the front of the queue, and every indication points to him as the frontrunner for Sevilla.
Flick will not drag out the mystery for long. He is expected to confirm his starting goalkeeper in Friday’s pre-match media appearance.
The only question left is simple: does he trust the scans and Garcia’s recovery, or does he lean on experience and hand the gloves to Szczesny while Livakovic keeps waiting for his first real taste of Barcelona life?
