Barcelona's Joan García injured in Racing Santander match

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García injured his right knee during his team's 7-2 victory over Racing Santander on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for about three weeks. The club has not given an exact timeframe, but the keeper is set to miss this weekend's league match against Sevilla and his potential call-up to the Spanish national team is now in doubt.

The club's medical statement confirmed the issue. "First-team player Joan Garcia has mild discomfort in his right knee," the statement said. "The evolution of the injury will determine his availability." García did not return to the pitch after halftime at Camp Nou, with Wojciech Szczesny replacing him for the remainder of the match.

Injury history and cover

This new problem is separate from the left knee injury that required surgery last season. The projected three-week absence also casts doubt on his availability for the match against Getafe on October 10, immediately after the international break. In his absence, manager Xavi has Szczesny as the immediate replacement and Dominik Livakovic, who is yet to make his official debut for the club.

For Racing Santander, the match at Camp Nou was a heavy defeat despite scoring twice, through M. Gueye and M. Zabiri. The Cantabrian side sits 10th in La Liga with seven points from six games, showing inconsistent form with two wins, one draw, and three losses. Their next fixture is away to bottom-placed Celta Vigo this Saturday, a key match to get back on track.

Forward Yassir Zabiri, who scored against Barcelona and netted a brace in the 2-1 win over Alavés, is Racing's top scorer this season with six goals. The team aims to consolidate a mid-table position and move away from the relegation spots, making the trip to Balaídos key. The squad's status, with Andrés Martín and Simon Eriksson currently sidelined, can be tracked on our injuries page. Joan García's injury, while affecting the opposition, is a reminder of the physical nature of Wednesday's match, which produced a lopsided scoreline but also moments of attacking promise from the Santander side.

The original report is at El País Deportes