Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal both close to a return in more positive news for the La Liga champions
Barcelona have been dealt yet another injury blow with confirmation that Joan Garcia and Raphinha will both miss several weeks through injury.
The club announced on Friday that summer signing Garcia, who has been outstanding in goal so far, requires arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee.
The procedure means the 24-year-old goalkeeper could miss up to six weeks of football.
Raphinha, meanwhile, faces three weeks out after suffering a thigh injury during Thursday’s 3-1 win against Real Oviedo. The Brazilian forward was forced off after 65 minutes and will now sit out Sunday’s meeting with Real Sociedad, as well as the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain on 1 October.
Both players add to a growing injury list for the La Liga champions. Midfielder Gavi has been ruled out for five months following surgery on a similar knee issue earlier this week, while attacking midfielder Fermin Lopez is recovering from a muscle problem.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a long-term absentee after back surgery, and Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal have been sidelined for weeks now, although both players are close to a return and could in fact feature against Real Sociedad on Sunday.
In Garcia’s absence, second-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny will step into the role he played to perfection in Barcelona’s domestic treble-winning campaign last term.
In attack, Raphinha’s absence means more opportunities for Marcus Rashford to continue impressing. The on-loan forward’s positive performances have meant that Barcelona have not seriously missed the absence of Yamal.
