Eric García is set to return to play at the Metropolitano just three weeks after going down injured, and Hansi Flick’s hopes of fielding his first-choice defense against Atlético Madrid now rest largely on the Barcelona center-back, El Periódico reported.

The German coach had publicly asked his squad to hold out until the La Liga break with five injured players, a list that grew to six after his comments when Rodrigo Hernández was added. With Barcelona facing undefeated Aston Villa in the Champions League and then Atlético — their closest pursuer in the league table — at home to the rojiblancos this Sunday, Flick had little expectation of recovering any of his absentees in time for the two fixtures.

Christensen’s Two Months Out, García’s Three Weeks

Andreas Christensen was the first to enter the treatment room, injured on Sept. 19 against Sevilla, and his two-month absence plus his medical history rule him out as a starter even if he is cleared before the trip to Madrid, the report said.

García’s setback came a month later, on Oct. 17, at Real Betis’ ground in Seville, and it looked milder from the start — the recovery timeline confirms that. Three weeks on, the Martorell-born defender is ready to play at the Metropolitano. Whether Flick restores him to the starting lineup is the coach’s call, and the report notes Flick has been pleasantly surprised by the performance of Brian Fariñas, who has filled in at right-back since Xavi Espart went down a week after Jules Koundé’s injury. Koundé’s left ankle sprain, which had made him doubtful for the match against Real Madrid, has dragged on longer than the initial diagnosis suggested.

Midfield Holds Up Better Than the Back Line

In midfield, Flick is less stretched: Dani Olmo and Rodrigo Hernández are among the absentees there, but both are expected to need at least two more weeks, leaving the coach with more options in that area than in defense heading into the two demanding fixtures.

The Atlético match carries direct title implications — the visitors arrive as Barcelona’s immediate pursuers and will contest first place in La Liga on Sunday at the Metropolitano in Madrid.