Barcelona defender likely to miss Espanyol match – report

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia is facing a significant setback ahead of the highly anticipated derby against Espanyol this Sunday. 

According to a recent report by Santi Gimenez in AS, Garcia’s absence from the training sessions has effectively ruled him out of the match. 

The journalist mentions that he did not train with the team yesterday, indicating that his participation in the upcoming game is almost impossible. 

This situation is particularly challenging for Hansi Flick, as it disrupts the rotations he had planned for both the defensive and midfield lines.

What happened to Eric Garcia?

Garcia has been an integral part of Flick’s starting lineup until recently. His last appearance was on October 20, when he experienced discomfort in the abductor muscle of his right leg during the warm-up ahead of the match against Sevilla. 

Eric Garcia is likely to miss the Espanyol match. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Since that incident, he has missed critical matches against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. 

There had been hopes that he would recover in time to face Espanyol; however, he is still training individually and has not yet rejoined his teammates on the pitch. In fact, there is no update about his return.

Bad timing

The timing of Garcia’s injury is unfortunate, as Barcelona have a busy schedule coming up. Following the Catalan derby, the team will play two important matches before the international break. 

They will face Red Star in Belgrade for the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League, followed by a league match against Real Sociedad. Garcia will likely focus on regaining his fitness to participate in these games.

Additionally, there are growing concerns about Garcia’s future at Barcelona. Speculation has emerged regarding a potential departure, with reports suggesting that several La Liga clubs, including Real Sociedad, Real Betis, and Girona, are interested in signing him. 

This uncertainty adds another layer to the situation as the team goes through the challenges of injuries and squad depth during a crucial part of the season.