Barcelona rule out serious injury to 25-year-old star after half-time substitution vs Racing Club – report

Barcelona rule out serious injury to 25-year-old star after half-time substitution vs Racing Club – report Barcelona have avoided an immediate injury scare involving Joan Garcia, with the goalkeeper coming off at half-time against Racing Santander after feeling discomfort. According to SPORT , Garcia asked to be substituted after noticing an issue, prompting Hansi Flick to make the change rather than risk aggravating the problem.  For now, no serious injury has been confirmed, with further tests expected to provide a clearer picture. It is to be noted that Garcia had completed the first half without any obvious physical problems.  He dealt with the difficult conditions normally, but his final involvement before the interval may have caused the issue. Joan Garcia felt discomfort before being replaced As per the outlet, the Barcelona goalkeeper slipped on the wet grass during the last action of the first half, and that incident could have been linked to the discomfort he later felt. Joan Garcia was taken off at half-time vs Racing Club. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) His substitution came as something of a surprise because there had been no clear indication during the opening 45 minutes that Garcia was struggling. Flick addressed the situation after the match , explaining that the club would need to wait for the medical assessment before knowing the extent of the problem. “He had a niggle in his knee, and we will have to wait and see what the tests say,” said the manager. For now, Barcelona’s decision to remove Garcia appears to have been driven by caution.  The goalkeeper had reported discomfort, and there was little reason for Flick to take unnecessary risks with the season still in its early stages. Szczesny’s return takes an unfortunate turn Early indications suggest there is no serious injury to Joan Garcia. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Wojciech Szczesny was brought on for the second half, marking his return to competitive action for Barcelona. Unfortunately, it was not the comeback the Polish goalkeeper would have wanted. In the 65th minute, Szczesny received a back pass inside the penalty area but took too long to release the ball. Racing forward Yassir Zabiri capitalised on the mistake, stole possession and finished to reduce the deficit. The error gave Racing renewed hope, although the bigger concern for Barcelona will be the outcome of Garcia’s tests.  With the goalkeeper having established himself as Flick’s first-choice option, any extended absence would leave the manager facing an important selection decision.