Barcelona has disclosed that Joan Garcia has been excluded in El Clasico against Real Madrid.
Joan Garcia set to miss El Clasico
The very first El Clasico of the season is right upon us, however, the line-up of the Catalan club is once more affected by injuries. The game against Real Madrid will definitely not see Joan Garcia participating. According to the Spanish press, the 24-year-old footballer is still undergoing recovery and consequently the earliest he will be able to play is November.
Therefore, the whole injury scenario is a big challenge for Flick’s side. They are already dealing with a number of injuries. Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez are all currently nursing injuries with Dani Olmo also ruled out and is spending time on the treatment table. A couple of these players may recover before this next round of matches, however, Garcia leaving is a big worry. His sharp reflexes and calm presence in between the sticks were key in Barca‘s four wins over Real last season. Without him the backline feels slightly exposed.
❗️Rival Watch: Joan Garcia will not take part in the Clásico, as per Diario AS. pic.twitter.com/W2SmKlTh7V
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) October 12, 2025
Madrid handed boost before El Clasico following Joan Garcia injury
This is literally the kind of news that changes the mood in the Real Madrid dressing room. For several months, the team has been taking Barca’s defeat on the chin, who have not only been beating Madrid but also dominating them in every aspect last season. The absence of Garcia now leaves Madrid’s attackers, in particular Kylian Mbappe, with the chance to pounce. Garcia had been one of the rare goalkeepers that managed to frustrate Mbappe at one point this season, but now the Frenchman will back himself against Wojciech Szczesny and takes confidence departing from Garcia.
Szczesny has played in large matches before, but the absence of Garcia certainly changes things. The polish keeper has to be at his very best to keep Madrid’s front line quiet. Clasicos are frequently determined by fine margins, and if this margin is flipped simply by not having your first-choice keeper in place can happen quickly. The timing is rough for Barca, considering Garcia was just hitting top form before picking up the knock that sidelined him.
Flick faces another selection worry
Garcia’s absence till least November 5th has created a hard situation for Flick to perform his task of managing the competitions. The goalkeeper will not attend just the match against Madrid. Fans are very eager to get some good news and are really through with missing it. Nevertheless, it still presents problems for the squad.
The goalkeeper who has been providing the club with great service is once more going to be the same one who performed last campaign when he filled in for Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the time of injury, in short, Szczesny. Flick will be hoping things can repeat. What will trouble him more is the rhythm.
The mood in training has reportedly dipped slightly, though Flick has urged his squad to stay composed. “We’ve handled setbacks before,” he was quoted saying after the news broke. Even more, the lack of a first-choice keeper ahead of a trip to Madrid is more than just bad luck, it’s a test of depth, belief and mentality.
Author’s Opinion:
Joan Garcia’s absence changes the entire flavor of this El Clasico. Real Madrid now look sharper, while Barca will have to rely on grit to keep cool. If Szczesny can produce something like last season, Barca still have a chance, but there’s no doubt they have taken a key piece from their puzzle just before the biggest game of the year.
