Eric García goes down injured against Newcastle and raises alarms

FC Barcelona

At the doorstep of a decisive part of the season and with the national team list on the horizon, Barcelona loses one of its most versatile players. Eric García left the field injured 20 minutes into the match against Newcastle, showing signs of a relapse.

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Eric García
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In a demanding schedule, Hansi Flick needs reliable and versatile players, and Eric had been fulfilling that role. The setback also comes in a week marked by the upcoming call-up from Luis de la Fuente, scheduled for this Friday, March 20.

A twinge at 20 minutes in a very tight match

The warning had already been there: the defender did not play in the first leg due to previous hamstring discomfort. This time he did start, but lasted just 20 minutes on the pitch. After feeling a twinge, he requested a substitution and was immediately replaced, a sign that the sensations in the area had not subsided.

The incident strikes directly at a Barça that has found in the Martorell native a solution for several scenarios, capable of adapting to different positions according to the coach’s plan. In a very evenly matched first half, the Catalan’s absence threatens to affect the course of the tie.

The defender had already missed both the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 and the league match against Sevilla, and now raises alarms again at a sensitive moment also on a personal level: his presence in Spain’s March friendlies is in doubt pending the list.

Without a medical report yet, all signs point to him being out against Rayo Vallecano this Sunday and that his return to the pitch would come after the international break.