Eric Garcia injury threatens Barcelona squad ahead of crucial matches

FC Barcelona faced a new squad setback following a muscle injury sustained by defender Eric Garcia, despite securing a heavy away victory against Real Betis with five goals to two in the Spanish football league. During the match held on Saturday evening for the ninth round of the domestic competition, the player who came on as a substitute and managed to score his team's fifth goal collapsed on the pitch due to severe pain in his right thigh muscles during the final moments of the game. Despite his ongoing attempts to endure the pain in order to finish the match, the coaching staff of the Catalan team was forced to substitute him after he became unable to continue playing. This injury coincides with an extremely critical period for the team manager, as the club prepares for a tough encounter against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, followed by the anticipated El Clasico showdown against Real Madrid on Sunday in the domestic league. In the absence of official medical reports determining the exact extent of the injury, initial indications suggest it will be difficult for the player to recover in time for the upcoming European clash against Paris Saint-Germain due to the tight schedule. The defender is expected to undergo thorough medical examinations on Sunday in Barcelona to identify the nature of the injury and the expected duration of his absence from the pitches.