Knee injury sidelines Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia

MADRID, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia will miss Saturday's La Liga trip to Sevilla and will be unavailable for Spain during the international break after the club confirmed he had suffered a minor knee injury.

Barcelona's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Joan Garcia warms up before the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on August 31, 2026. (File photo: AFP)

Garcia sustained the injury in the first half of Wednesday's 7-2 home win over Racing Santander and was replaced by Wojciech Szczesny at the start of the second half.

Medical tests confirmed that the goalkeeper had not suffered a serious injury. However, Barcelona said on its website that "first-team player Joan Garcia is experiencing mild discomfort in his right knee. His recovery will determine when he returns."

The injury affects Garcia's right knee rather than his left, which required surgery last year.

Meanwhile, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente will have to decide whom to call up alongside Unai Simon and David Raya for the upcoming internationals against England, Croatia and Czechia.