Barcelona Unwilling to Risk Joan Garcia and Raphinha Against Getafe

Barcelona are facing an important selection decision ahead of Saturday’s clash with Getafe, with Hansi Flick determined not to take unnecessary risks with Joan Garcia and Raphinha.

According to AS, Garcia is still dealing with some discomfort in his right knee and has yet to return to full team training.

With his recovery taking longer than initially expected, Flick is reluctant to rush the goalkeeper back for the weekend fixture. A final decision is expected on Friday.

If Garcia is not declared fully fit, Dominik Livakovic is expected to start, while Wojciech Szczesny currently appears to be behind him in the goalkeeping hierarchy.

Joan Garcia’s Return Has Been Delayed

Garcia suffered the knee problem on September 16 during the closing stages of Barcelona’s match against Racing Santander.

The goalkeeper made an awkward movement while trying to retrieve a ball that had gone out of play. Barcelona initially expected him to return to group training after roughly two and a half weeks.

However, Garcia was still working separately from his teammates on Monday, raising concerns over the slower-than-expected recovery.

Flick is therefore taking no chances. Unless the medical staff give Garcia the green light, Barcelona will not risk his fitness against Getafe.

Both Garcia and Raphinha trained individually on Wednesday as Barcelona continued to monitor their conditions.

Raphinha’s Situation Is Different

Raphinha’s situation is slightly more complicated.

The Brazilian winger has experienced oedema in his thigh, although medical tests have reportedly ruled out an actual injury.

However, the location of the issue is causing some concern because Raphinha has previously suffered two injuries in the same area.

That history means Barcelona have little reason to take unnecessary risks, particularly with an extremely demanding schedule approaching.

Flick could therefore decide to leave Raphinha out against Getafe even if he is technically available.

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Barcelona Have Bigger Tests Coming

Barcelona’s priority is to avoid turning a minor fitness issue into a significant injury.

With both players still training individually, Flick is expected to wait for the final medical assessment before making a decision.

Garcia’s situation appears relatively straightforward: if he is not fully fit, he will not be risked.

Raphinha presents a more difficult decision because of his importance to the team. However, Barcelona’s upcoming schedule gives Flick every reason to think beyond Saturday’s match.

With several crucial fixtures on the horizon, including major tests in La Liga and the Champions League, protecting key players could prove more important than forcing them back for one game.

For Flick, the message is clear: there is no reason to gamble with Garcia or Raphinha if either player is not 100% ready.