Barcelona Goalkeeper Situation: Hansi Flick's Tough Decision

Rain, a slip, and now a decision for Hansi Flick.

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia underwent medical tests on Thursday morning after feeling pain in his right knee during Wednesday’s win over Racing Santander, according to Marca. The problem came from an innocuous-looking moment: he lost his footing on the soaked turf while chasing down a ball behind his goal in heavy rain.

He played on until the break, but that awkward movement caught up with him. The club took no chances. Garcia did not emerge for the second half, with Wojciech Szczesny sent on in his place.

Early examinations at the training ground brought a measure of calm. The scans ruled out a serious problem and, crucially for Barcelona, the discomfort is in Garcia’s right knee – not the left leg that required surgery last season.

Even so, Sevilla away is suddenly in doubt.

“First-team player Joan Garcia is experiencing mild discomfort in his right knee. His availability will depend on the evolution of the injury,” read the official club statement. No timeline, no guarantees. Just a wait.

Only 48 hours separate Thursday’s tests from Saturday night’s kick-off at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. That leaves Flick juggling risk and rhythm. The German coach has built a reputation for refusing to rush players back before international breaks, and this situation fits that pattern perfectly. With three weeks of rest on the horizon, gambling on his starting goalkeeper’s fitness would run against his usual instincts.

So the question is simple, even if the answer is not: Szczesny again, or a first start for Dominik Livakovic?

Szczesny has the obvious advantage. He already stepped in mid-game against Racing and is the current favourite to start in Andalusia. He knows the pace, he knows the pressure, and he has minutes in his legs this week.

Livakovic, Croatia’s No. 1, waits in the background. Signed in the summer and yet to make his official debut in Blaugrana colours, he represents the alternative: fresh, proven at international level, but untested in this Barcelona side when it truly counts.

Barcelona’s staff will squeeze every last hour out of the recovery window. A final fitness test is planned during the last training session before the squad travels south. If Garcia shows the slightest setback, the club can park the issue until after the international break, giving him three full weeks to reset.

Until then, the debate lingers. On Friday, Flick steps into the press room and will finally reveal which pair of gloves he trusts to walk out at the Sanchez Pizjuan.