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According to Fabrizio Romano on Sunday, October 18, 2026, Barcelona have confirmed that Eric García will be out of action for three to four weeks because of a muscle injury. The Spanish defender will miss the important matches against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid, while Jules Koundé has also suffered an injury that will keep him out of Tuesday's Champions League clash against PSG.
The injury news is a major setback for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who must now find solutions to strengthen his defence ahead of two difficult fixtures. With PSG coming up in the Champions League and Real Madrid waiting in La Liga, the timing of these injuries could not be worse for the Catalan club.
Barcelona confirmed that García has suffered a muscle injury to his right thigh. His recovery is expected to take between three and four weeks, meaning he will be unavailable for several important games during that period.
García's absence will be a concern for Flick because of his ability to play in different defensive positions. His versatility gives Barcelona more options when dealing with demanding matches, and losing him could affect the manager's plans.
The defender also played a role in Barcelona's recent 5-2 victory over Real Betis, scoring during the match before being forced off late in the game because of physical discomfort. Further medical examinations confirmed the seriousness of his injury.
Meanwhile, Koundé has suffered a sprain to his left ankle. Barcelona have confirmed that the French defender will miss Tuesday's meeting with PSG, leaving the club waiting to discover whether he can recover in time for El Clásico against Real Madrid on Sunday, October 25.
His availability for the match against Real Madrid will depend on how well the injury improves over the coming days. Barcelona will be hoping that his recovery progresses quickly, as his defensive experience could be important in such a high-pressure encounter.
Flick now faces the challenge of managing his defensive options during a crucial period of the season. Barcelona will need their available defenders to step up and deliver strong performances against two of Europe's biggest clubs.
The club's medical team will continue monitoring both players, but García is expected to remain unavailable for several weeks. Koundé's situation will become clearer as his ankle injury progresses.
Barcelona will now focus on preparing for PSG while hoping to avoid further injuries before the meeting with Real Madrid. The coming days could prove important in determining how effectively Flick's team handles these two major challenges.