Barcelona Forced to Sign a Right-Back

Latest news in Barcelona. The Catalan club will have to improvise at right-back following the injuries of Jules Koundé and Eric Garcia, leaving Hansi Flick without his two main options for that position before visiting PSG this Tuesday and facing the Clásico against Real Madrid on October 25. João Cancelo and the young Xavi Espart emerge as alternatives to cover the flank.

Barcelona loses Koundé and Eric Garcia in a crucial week

The Catalan club confirmed that Eric Garcia has a muscle injury in the rectus femoris of his right thigh and will be out for three to four weeks. The defender will miss immediate matches against PSG and Real Madrid, along with other scheduled games.

Jules Koundé's situation is different. The French player has a sprained left ankle and won't be available for the Champions League match in Paris. His participation in the Clásico will depend on his recovery in the coming days, according to Barcelona's medical report.

Both absences came after the 2-5 victory against Betis, where both players ended with physical issues. Eric Garcia has a clearer recovery time frame, but Barcelona has not set a return date for Koundé.

Flick's problem goes beyond finding a replacement for a single match. Eric Garcia's absence will last for several weeks, forcing the coach to reorganize the defense for multiple games, while awaiting updates on the Frenchman's recovery.

❗️ MEDICAL NEWS First-team player Eric Garcia has suffered a muscle injury to the rectus femoris in his right thigh. His recovery time is estimated at 3 to 4 weeks. First-team player Jules Kounde has suffered a sprain to his left ankle and will miss the match against PSG. His availability for Sunday’s Clásico against Real Madrid will depend on how his injury progresses.

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 18, 2026

Cancelo and Xavi Espart, alternatives for the right-back

With Koundé and Eric Garcia out against PSG, João Cancelo and Xavi Espart are the natural choices to occupy the full-back positions. Flick can switch Cancelo to the other side and opt for the academy player to complete the defensive line, considering how other pieces fall into place.

The situation is further complicated by the absence of Andreas Christensen, which limits options in the center of defense. Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín stand as alternatives to line up in the center, pending Martin's fitness after suffering a knock against Betis. Gerard Martín could be back in the squad to travel to Paris.

Alejandro Balde is also available, but his role in Flick's plans is limited. The coach will need to decide if he keeps the full-back in the rotation or prioritizes other combinations to cope with the absences without disrupting more positions than necessary.

El Clásico influences Flick's decisions

Immediate focus for Barcelona is covering the right flank in Paris, but planning must also consider the league clash against Real Madrid. Eric Garcia will miss that fixture due to the estimated recovery period, while Koundé's availability hinges on his medical progress.

For now, Barcelona has not announced any new signings to address the injuries. The immediate solution lies in rearranging the squad and utilizing available players; any transfer decisions would be a separate matter from the tactical response for this week.

Koundé's progress will be pivotal in shaping Flick's plan for the Clásico. Until then, Barcelona will rely on Cancelo and Espart to cover the right-back position, with limited room for rotation during a string of matches involving PSG and Real Madrid.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Barcelona, obligado a "fichar" a un lateral derecho