Overview
- Eric García left Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Real Betis with a right thigh muscle problem after scoring, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming Champions League match with PSG and the Clasico.
- Gerard Martin was withdrawn at half-time in the same match as a precaution after picking up a first-half knock, and Jules Koundé finished with minor discomfort.
- Barcelona have scheduled medical tests for Sunday to assess the injuries and will issue an official update once scans clarify the severity and likely recovery times.
- Head coach Hansi Flick must plan without Andreas Christensen, who is already injured, and is considering emergency cover such as using Frenkie de Jong at centre-back if tests rule out García or Martin.
- The club’s cautious approach is informed by García’s recent history of monitored knee discomfort from September, which makes staff likely to wait for scan results before risking him in high-profile games.