Barcelona Without Joan Garcia for Sevilla Clash: Iker Rodriguez Steps Up
FC Barcelona boarded the plane to Seville without their first-choice goalkeeper.
Joan Garcia missed the club’s final training session before Saturday’s La Liga clash with Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and has been ruled out of the game, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Garcia out, but scare not considered serious
Garcia came off at half-time against Racing Santander after feeling discomfort in his right knee. The problem is not believed to be serious, but with the schedule already tightening and Barcelona flying at the top of the table, the medical staff and Hansi Flick have decided not to gamble.
The decision pushes Garcia onto an already short but important injury list that includes Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji. Those three are expected to be the only absentees for the trip to Andalusia.
Iker Rodriguez promoted to senior squad
With Garcia sidelined, Flick has turned again to youth.
Eighteen-year-old Iker Rodriguez, the Barça Atletic goalkeeper, trained with the first team and will be included in the matchday squad as the third-choice option. He will sit behind the expected starter Wojciech Szczesny and Dominik Livakovic.
Rodriguez is not a stranger in this environment. He spent a large chunk of pre-season working under Flick, impressing enough to be firmly on the club’s radar. Since the campaign began, he has started Barça Atletic’s first two league games, recording clean sheets against Naxara and Logrones B.
His call-up offers Flick extra security between the posts for what is always a demanding night at the Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Hamza Abdelkarim also continued to work with the senior group, keeping his place in Flick’s plans. Belgian winger Jesse Bisiwu, though, was absent from the session and remains on the outside looking in. The teenage summer signing has yet to appear in a first-team squad this season, and that wait is set to stretch at least one more weekend.
Perfect start on the line in Seville
Barcelona travel south with their record spotless and their confidence high. Six league games, six wins, and a place alone at the top of La Liga. They have been ruthless in front of goal, swarming opponents and turning games into one-way traffic for long spells.
Sevilla, though, are no soft landing. Sitting fifth after four wins from their first six league fixtures, they represent one of the sternest tests of Barcelona’s early surge.
Garcia’s absence tweaks the narrative but not the ambition. Flick’s side head into the Sanchez-Pizjuan looking to protect a perfect start and carry their momentum through the last hurdle before the international break.
