Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia sustained a calf injury late in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 match against Newcastle United, and is now a doubt for the upcoming quarterfinal clash with Atletico Madrid next month.
During the match, which Barcelona won 7-2 at Camp Nou on Thursday, March 19, 2026, Garcia appeared to injure his calf in the 80th minute whereas challenging a shot from Harvey Barnes. He immediately signaled for attention and sat on the pitch.
Garcia was subsequently substituted, with Wojciech Szczesny taking his place. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick indicated after the game that the injury did not appear to be serious.
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“It doesn’t seem serious, but we have to wait,” the German coach said following the contest.
An internal source at Barcelona told The Athletic that initial tests revealed a minor muscle tear in Garcia’s right calf, and he is expected to be sidelined for approximately three weeks.
This potential absence means Garcia will miss Spain’s upcoming international break. He also faces the possibility of missing three Barcelona fixtures: a match against Rayo Vallecano on March 22, and both legs of their Champions League quarterfinal tie against Atletico Madrid, on April 5 and April 9 respectively.
Garcia joined Barcelona from Espanyol last summer and has made 35 appearances across all competitions for the club.
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