According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday November 2, 2026, Barcelona will be without Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia for their crucial UEFA Champions League encounter against Aston Villa, with both defenders now targeting a return for the weekend clash against Atletico Madrid.

The defensive duo have continued training individually as they work towards full fitness after suffering injuries in recent weeks.

Hansi Flick has faced a difficult situation at the back following several injury setbacks. Barcelona lost both Kounde and Garcia during their La Liga victory over Real Betis. Gerard Martin also experienced discomfort towards the end of that encounter.

The defensive problems came at an unfortunate time for the Catalan giants. They subsequently struggled against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, with their weakened backline contributing to disappointing results.

Kounde was initially expected to recover within a week, but his rehabilitation has taken longer than anticipated. Garcia was given an estimated recovery period of almost a month, although earlier reports suggested he could return sooner.

According to Jijantes FC, both defenders trained separately from the rest of the squad during their latest session. This effectively rules them out of Wednesday's Champions League meeting with Aston Villa.

However, their recovery is progressing positively, and both players are hoping to become available for the Atletico Madrid fixture this weekend. Their return would provide Flick with a significant boost.

Meanwhile, the Barcelona manager must decide who partners Pau Cubarsi against Aston Villa. Gerard Martin remains an option despite recently dealing with discomfort, while Frenkie de Jong could also feature after impressing in defence against Deportivo Alaves.

However, the Dutch midfielder is naturally a central midfielder rather than a defender. Flick must therefore decide whether to trust De Jong's experience or Martin's defensive qualities against an Aston Villa side that recently defeated Manchester City.