Barcelona star now expected to miss Real Madrid showdown | OneFootball

A leading member of the first-team ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona is now considered unlikely to play his part in the club’s upcoming clash with arch rivals Real Madrid.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who point towards Joan García as the player in question.

Goalkeeper Joan is for his part of course condemned to a spell on the sidelines at present.

As much comes after the 24-year-old was last month forced under the knife, to solve ‘a tear of the internal meniscus in his left knee’.

Joan has in turn missed each of Barcelona’s last three outings across all competitions.

And his absence has been sorely felt, with the Blaugrana having been condemned to defeat in two of these three fixtures.

All associated with the reigning Spanish champions, in turn, are likely to be left disappointed by the latest word stemming from the media regarding Joan’s recovery.

Over the last week, it had been suggested that the former Espanyol man was increasingly optimistic of being back available to play his part in the season’s first edition of El Clásico, on October 26th.

As alluded to above, however, as much is beginning to look increasingly unlikely.

As per a report from MD:

‘Although his recovery is progressing well, the 24-year-old goalkeeper from Sallent is not expected at the Santiago Bernabéu.’

The Barcelona medical staff are taking a cautious approach with Joan, and will not rush him back to the pitch under any circumstances.

Conor Laird – GSFN