Reports confirming that Joan García is not injured come as positive news for Barcelona. Softfootball believes this is a crucial moment for the team to have him available, especially considering their upcoming fixtures.
Barcelona are set to face Atlético Madrid multiple times during April 2026, making squad fitness and availability extremely important. Atlético, on the other hand, are dealing with a demanding schedule that could force them to prioritise certain competitions.
Atlético Madrid will first face Real Madrid on Sunday, 22 March 2026, in a LaLiga Round 29 match. After the international break, they will play Barcelona back-to-back, followed by a match against Sevilla, then face Barcelona again, before also competing in the Copa del Rey final.
This run of fixtures presents a significant challenge, and Our analysts believe Atlético may have to sacrifice performances in LaLiga to focus more on the Champions League and Copa del Rey. The workload is heavy, and managing energy levels across all competitions will be difficult.
In contrast, Barcelona may benefit from this situation, particularly as they are not involved in the Copa del Rey final. If Barcelona had been part of that final, their schedule would have been equally demanding.
As it stands, Atlético’s fixture congestion could provide Barcelona with a strategic advantage in their upcoming encounters.
