Official: Barcelona provide fitness update on Joan Garcia | OneFootball

Barcelona have received a timely boost ahead of their upcoming La Liga fixture, with fears surrounding Joan Garcia now officially put to rest.

The goalkeeper, who caused concern during yesterday’s clash against Newcastle United, has been declared fit after undergoing medical tests on Thursday morning. 

The club confirmed that no injury has been detected, meaning the 24-year-old will be available for selection against Rayo Vallecano this Sunday.

“Following today’s tests, Joan Garcia has been cleared with no injury and will be available for selection,” read the official statement from the club.

It comes as a significant relief for Hansi Flick, especially at a point in the season where momentum is building and squad stability is crucial.

What happened to Joan Garcia?

The concern began late in the game against Newcastle, when Garcia signalled to the bench in the 80th minute. 

The incident occurred as he stretched to block a shot from Harvey Barnes. Although he completed the action, his reaction immediately suggested discomfort.

As he got back up, Garcia was visibly in pain, repeatedly reaching down to his left calf. 

Moments later, he lay down on the pitch and even pulled down his sock to check the affected area, a gesture that heightened concern among both teammates and staff.

The medical team responded quickly and after a brief on-field assessment, they advised an immediate substitution. 

Garcia was able to walk off on his own, but his expression made it clear that something was not right at the time.

That opened the door for Wojciech Szczesny. The experienced Polish goalkeeper was thrown into action without any time to properly warm up. 

Interestingly, the appearance was Szczesny’s official debut for Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou.

Despite the worrying scenes during the match, Barcelona opted for a precautionary approach with Garcia. 

The decision to substitute him was made to avoid any potential risk, especially given the importance of upcoming fixtures.

Following further examination, those concerns have now been completely eased.