Joan García Set to Miss Three Weeks With Meniscus Injury
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García is reportedly set to spend around three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a meniscus problem in his right knee, dealing a fresh injury blow to Hansi Flick’s side at the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
The injury occurred during Barcelona’s emphatic 7–2 victory over Racing Santander on Wednesday. García started the encounter but was replaced by Wojciech Szczęsny at half-time after experiencing discomfort in his knee. The incident followed a slip near the end of the first half, prompting the Barcelona coaching staff to take no unnecessary risks with their goalkeeper. Initial reports suggested the change was precautionary while further medical examinations were awaited.
Subsequent medical reports have indicated that García has suffered an injury involving the meniscus of his right knee. The reported recovery period is approximately three weeks, meaning he is expected to miss Barcelona’s upcoming LaLiga fixture against Sevilla and could also miss Spain’s international commitments during the forthcoming break. Reports indicate that the injury is not considered to require surgery at this stage.
The development is particularly noteworthy because García has already experienced a significant knee problem in the past. In September 2025, he underwent surgery after suffering a torn medial meniscus in his left knee, with Barcelona then estimating a recovery period of four to six weeks. The current problem is reportedly affecting his right knee, meaning it is separate from the knee that required surgery last year.
With García unavailable, attention will turn to Barcelona’s goalkeeping options. Wojciech Szczęsny replaced him against Racing Santander and remains one of the available alternatives, while Dominik Livaković is also part of the goalkeeping picture. The situation gives Flick an immediate selection decision to make as Barcelona attempt to maintain their strong start to the season.
Despite the setback, the reported three-week recovery period means Barcelona are not facing a long-term absence. The priority will be ensuring that García completes his rehabilitation properly before returning to competitive action. A cautious approach would allow the club to protect the goalkeeper from aggravating the injury while giving him the best opportunity to return at full fitness.
For Barcelona, the timing is inconvenient but the relatively short projected absence provides some relief. García’s return will nevertheless be closely monitored, particularly given his previous history of a meniscus injury. Until he is medically cleared, Flick will have to rely on his other goalkeeping options.
Joan García’s injury timeline:
- Injury: Right-knee meniscus problem
- Estimated absence: Around three weeks
- Surgery: Not expected based on current reports
- Immediate fixture affected: Barcelona vs Sevilla
- Likely replacement: Wojciech Szczęsny, with Dominik Livaković also available
- Previous knee issue: Left medial meniscus injury requiring surgery in September 2025.
Injury information can change as Barcelona’s medical staff provide further updates. The three-week timeline is an estimated recovery period rather than a guaranteed return date.
