Barcelona’s build-up to a decisive run of fixtures has been disrupted by two fresh injury setbacks, with goalkeeper Joan García and winger Raphinha both sidelined.
The club confirmed on Friday morning that García sustained an injury during training and will undergo surgery on Saturday, carried out by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau—the same specialist who operated on Gavi earlier this year. The 23-year-old is expected to be out for four to six weeks.
Earlier in the day, medical tests also revealed that Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg, ruling the Brazilian forward out for approximately three weeks.
Matches They Will Miss
The timing of the injuries is especially damaging for manager Hansi Flick, with both players set to miss:
- Sunday’s La Liga clash against Real Sociedad
- The Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain
- The domestic fixture against Sevilla
Some Relief for Flick
There was a glimmer of good news at Friday’s training session, as Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde returned to full fitness and are expected to feature this weekend—offering Flick much-needed squad depth.
In García’s absence, Wojciech Szczęsny will reclaim the starting spot between the posts. The Polish goalkeeper impressed last season with a series of strong performances and is trusted to anchor the defence. Up front, Marcus Rashford is likely to step in for Raphinha, with the Englishman currently enjoying excellent form.
