Barcelona Lose Joan Garcia for Sevilla Trip as Iker Rodriguez Steps Up

FC Barcelona boarded the plane to Seville without their starting goalkeeper.

Joan Garcia skipped the club’s final training session before Saturday’s La Liga clash with Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and has been ruled out of the game, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

The 23-year-old was withdrawn at half-time in the win over Racing Santander after feeling discomfort in his right knee. The medical staff do not consider the problem serious, but with the season still young and Barcelona flying, the club has decided not to gamble with its No. 1.

Garcia now joins Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji on the injury list. Barring late surprises, those three will be the only absentees for Hansi Flick in Andalusia.

Iker Rodriguez promoted again

Garcia’s absence opened a door that Iker Rodriguez already knew well.

Flick has called up the 18-year-old Barça Atletic goalkeeper to work with the senior squad and travel as the third-choice keeper. He will sit behind the expected starter Wojciech Szczesny and Dominik Livakovic in the pecking order.

Rodriguez spent a large chunk of pre-season under Flick, training daily with the first team and leaving a strong impression on the staff. Back with Barça Atletic, he has started their first two league games of the campaign and kept two clean sheets, against Naxara and Logrones B.

Now he returns to the senior dressing room with more minutes, more confidence and a clear role: extra insurance for a top-of-the-table side walking into one of La Liga’s loudest stadiums.

Hamza Abdelkarim also continued to work with the first team in the final session, reinforcing the link with the academy. Belgian winger Jesse Bisiwu, another teenage summer signing, was absent again and is still waiting for his first appearance in a senior matchday squad this season. That wait looks set to stretch beyond this weekend.

Perfect start on the line in Seville

Barcelona travel south with a perfect record to protect and a statement to reinforce.

Six games. Six wins. Top of La Liga on their own and scoring freely, with Flick’s side routinely overwhelming opponents through sheer attacking volume and relentless pressure.

The Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, though, rarely offers a gentle evening. Sevilla sit fifth after winning four of their opening six league matches and will see this as a chance to test the leaders’ resolve and depth, especially with Garcia out.

Barcelona arrive without their first-choice goalkeeper but with momentum, confidence and a teenager on the bench who has already had a taste of the big stage.

The question now is simple: can Flick’s side keep their perfect run intact in one of Spain’s most unforgiving arenas?