Barcelona are hopeful of welcoming several key players back ahead of the first El Clásico of the season later this month. Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal are all expected to return to action after the international break, offering Hansi Flick a timely boost. However, uncertainty still surrounds the fitness of goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Garcia, who has impressed since joining from Espanyol during the summer, underwent a minor knee operation following Barcelona’s victory over Real Oviedo last month. Initial assessments suggested that he would be sidelined for between four and six weeks, casting doubt on his availability for the high-profile clash against Real Madrid.
According to Sport, both the player and club medical staff remain optimistic that Garcia could recover in time to feature at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 26. He will certainly miss the upcoming fixtures against Girona and Olympiacos, but there is growing confidence that he may be cleared for action just in time for El Clásico.
However, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona will not take any risks with the 23-year-old’s recovery. Unless Garcia is declared fully fit, Flick is expected to continue with Wojciech Szczesny between the posts.
While Garcia’s absence would be a setback given his consistent performances since joining the Catalan side, Szczesny’s strong record against Real Madrid offers some reassurance. The Polish international has yet to lose to Los Blancos while in Barcelona colours, a statistic that provides the team with a measure of confidence should Garcia fail to recover in time.
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