Barcelona will be without starting goalkeeper Joan Garcia for Saturday’s La Liga showdown against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the club’s final fixture before the international break. Garcia sustained a knee injury during Wednesday’s 7-2 victory over Racing Santander, experiencing discomfort in his right knee that forced him off at half-time. Following detailed assessments by the club’s medical staff, manager Hansi Flick confirmed that the decision to rest the shot-stopper was made collectively. Consequently, Garcia has also been omitted from Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against England, Croatia, and Czechia.
Addressing the media ahead of the trip to Sevilla, Flick clarified that Garcia’s knee issue is not severe but requires immediate rest. “We spoke with him and the medical team about the discomfort he had,” Flick explained, emphasizing that caution took priority. “It’s nothing important, but he needs to rest. When the doctors told us what was wrong with him – it’s not very serious, but he needs to rest – we decided he should rest.” The precautionary measure leaves Barcelona needing a dependable substitute between the posts to maintain their strong domestic momentum.
With Garcia sidelined, Flick faces a tactical decision between 36-year-old Wojciech Szczęsny and summer arrival Dominik Livaković. Szczęsny entered as Garcia’s replacement against Racing Santander, though his second-half outing included a mistake when he was caught in possession in his own goalmouth, leading directly to Racing’s second goal. Despite that error, Flick publicly backed the experienced Polish international, who made 30 appearances for the Blaugrana during the 2024-25 campaign and played an important role in last season’s La Liga success. Szczęsny remains the expected option to step into the starting lineup on Saturday, offering him an immediate chance to refine his focus, particularly within a system that demands the keeper to operate as an active passer and sweeper alongside traditional shot-stopping duties.
The alternative path for Flick is Croatian international Dominik Livaković, who arrived in August from Dinamo Zagreb. Despite earlier speculation regarding a potential loan move, Livaković stayed with the first-team squad, bringing extensive top-level experience that includes 79 international caps for Croatia. Flick spoke highly of Livaković’s credentials, affirming the squad’s depth in goal: “I think it’s very important to have quality. I think that, with Dominik Livakovic, we also have a top-class goalkeeper – that’s just the way it is.” While validating both options as capable deputies, Flick refused to reveal his starting selection prior to kickoff, simply noting, “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” Following the conclusion of the weekend fixture, young prospect Rodriguez is scheduled to return to Barça Atlètic.
