Rodri catches his own teammate as Eric García suffers nose injury

Barcelona cruised to a 5-0 victory over Valencia, but the afternoon at Mestalla was not entirely painless for Hansi Flick’s team. Eric García was forced off before the half-hour mark after an accidental collision with Rodri during a corner.

Rodri attacked the delivery and caught his teammate in the face with his head. García was left bleeding and visibly shaken before signalling that he could not continue. Jules Koundé came on to replace him.

Barcelona were already firmly in control of the game, yet still managed to produce their own defensive emergency without any assistance from Valencia. Rodri was trying to win the ball and there was no suggestion of intent. It was simply an unfortunate clash between two players wearing the same shirt.

REPORTS POINT TO ANOTHER NASAL INJURY

Spanish newspaper AS reports that García has suffered another deviation of his nasal septum. Cadena SER describes the injury as a nasal fracture and says the defender is expected to wear a protective mask when he returns.

Barcelona have not released an official medical statement confirming the precise diagnosis or a possible recovery period. Until the club completes and publishes its assessment, the extent of the injury should therefore be treated as a media report.

The affected area has already caused García problems. He fractured his nose against Club Brugge last season and subsequently played in a protective mask for several weeks. Sunday’s collision appears to have damaged the same area again.

Rodri, meanwhile, had been helping Barcelona control the match from midfield. His most painful contribution was entirely accidental, although García will probably remember it rather longer than any of the passes exchanged during the 5-0 win.

KOUNDÉ READY TO STEP IN

The injury will not change García’s availability for Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord on Wednesday. He was already suspended for that fixture following the red card he received against Atlético Madrid in last season’s competition.

Koundé, who replaced him at Mestalla, is the leading candidate to start on the right side of the defence. Barcelona’s following match is away to Levante in La Liga. AS suggests García could return for that game wearing a mask, but this has not been confirmed by the club’s medical staff.

Barcelona left Mestalla with five goals, three points and one unwanted medical concern. On an afternoon when Valencia offered little resistance, the hardest blow suffered by a Barça player came from his own teammate.