Barcelona defender Eric Garcia has expressed his frustration after suffering a muscle injury that will sideline him for several weeks, ruling him out of two of the club’s most important fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old sustained the injury during Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over Real Betis, turning a memorable afternoon into a personal setback.
After scoring his first goal of the season, Garcia was forced off in the 90th minute and now faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
The defender has a muscle injury in the rectus femoris of his right thigh and is expected to be unavailable for three to four weeks.
His absence is also set to extend beyond the PSG and El Clasico encounters, with Barcelona facing further fixtures against Alaves, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid before the second international break of the season.
Eric Garcia reacts to Barcelona injury setback
Garcia took to social media after learning the extent of the injury, acknowledging the disappointment of missing a crucial stretch of Barcelona’s campaign while promising to work towards an early return.
“Yesterday was a great day for the team. Winning away at Betis is never easy and we secured a very important victory.
“But that’s the way it goes in football, and now I’ve got to sit out for a few days, just as the matches we all always want to play are coming up.
“It frustrates and saddens me not to be able to be there, but I’ll work as hard as I can to get back as soon as possible.
“Thank you for your support, Culés. See you soon! Força Barça always,” wrote the defender.
His message comes as Barcelona prepare for a demanding run of matches across domestic and European competitions.
Missing both the trip to PSG and the meeting with Real Madrid will be particularly disappointing for a player who has featured in the team’s plans.
From first goal of the season to injury concern
The injury came at the end of an otherwise positive outing for Garcia.
Eric Garcia scored his first goal of the season vs Real Betis. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
He entered the match at half-time, replacing Gerard Martin, and went on to score Barcelona’s fourth goal in the 2-5 win over Betis.
That moment marked his first goal of the season and capped a productive contribution to the team’s victory.
However, the defender’s afternoon ended in disappointment when the muscle problem forced him off in the 90th minute.
Barcelona face demanding schedule without Garcia
Garcia’s projected three-to-four-week absence could leave Barcelona without an important defensive option through a packed period of their schedule.
The matches against PSG and Real Madrid stand out, but the subsequent meetings with Alaves, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid also add to the challenge.
Barcelona will now have to manage the defender’s recovery carefully, with his return dependent on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation.