Joan Garcia Ruled Out Three Weeks With Knee Injury Amid Barcelona's 7-2 Racing Santander Rout

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia will be sidelined for around three weeks after suffering a meniscus injury in his right knee, a fresh blow that arrived in the middle of a stunning 7-2 rout of Racing Santander that kept Barcelona's perfect start to the season intact.

Garcia slipped on the wet artificial turf chasing a ball near his own box late in the first half and was replaced by Wojciech Szczesny at the interval. Medical tests on Thursday confirmed the meniscus tear, though reassuringly it affects his right knee rather than the left knee that required surgery last season, meaning no operation is currently needed.

The timing works in Barcelona's favour, with Garcia set to miss Saturday's trip to Sevilla before using the international break to continue his recovery, putting him on course to be fit for the visit of Getafe on October 10. Szczesny is expected to deputise in goal in the meantime, with new summer signing Dominik Livakovic also available, as Hansi Flick's side continue chasing a perfect record atop La Liga.