Barcelona Rule Eric García Out for Three to Four Weeks as Jules Koundé Remains Doubtful for El Clásico
Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain in a few hours in the UEFA Champions League. Following their victory over Real Betis, Hansi Flick’s side have confirmed the first absences for the trip to the Parc des Princes. These injury concerns come at a particularly bad time, with El Clásico against Real Madrid looming this weekend.
The UEFA Champions League returns for Barcelona, who have looked virtually unstoppable in LaLiga and are now turning their attention to the Parc des Princes. It will be their first major test in a decisive week for Hansi Flick’s project. In addition to facing Luis Enrique’s reigning European champions, Barcelona will host Real Madrid on Sunday. The German manager already knows he will be without Eric García and French defender Jules Koundé in the French capital.
Both players are among the first casualties of Barcelona’s victory over Real Betis away from home. Eric García suffered a muscular injury to the rectus femoris in his right thigh, which will keep him out of action for almost a month. The club confirmed it on its social media accounts, ruling him out of the match against Real Madrid on October 25.
“First-team player Eric García has suffered a muscular injury to the rectus femoris in his right thigh. His recovery period is expected to be between three and four weeks,” Barcelona stated in its announcement on social media and its official website. It is a major blow for Hansi Flick during a decisive week featuring two of the toughest opponents the LaLiga leaders could face.
However, García is far from the only player Barcelona will be without, at least for their clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Koundé has also picked up an injury, suffering a sprain to his left ankle, and did not travel to Paris with the rest of the squad. His recovery will determine whether he is fit to feature in El Clásico against Real Madrid.
“First-team player Jules Koundé has suffered a sprain to his left ankle and will miss the match against PSG. His recovery will determine his availability for Sunday’s Clásico against Real Madrid,” Barcelona also stated in its announcement regarding the French defender.
The best news for Barcelona in this regard was the inclusion of Gerard Martín in the squad for the PSG match. The versatile 24-year-old defender will be available at the Parc des Princes, providing some relief for the German manager ahead of the encounter with Real Madrid. He left the pitch against Betis before the final whistle, although this is not expected to prevent him from being part of Barcelona’s first decisive week of the season.
