Barcelona left without Eric García and Koundé right before facing PSG and Real Madrid

Barcelona's schedule could not be more demanding: PSG on Tuesday in the Champions League and a Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday. And right when he needs his full squad most, Hansi Flick is left without two key pieces in defense.

Eric García and Jules Koundé were ruled out for Tuesday's match against European champion PSG. Both are carrying knocks from Saturday's win at Real Betis.

The more serious blow is García's: a thigh injury that will keep him off the field for up to four weeks. That means he will also miss Sunday's Clasico against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou. Koundé, meanwhile, suffered an ankle sprain, and his status will be evaluated ahead of that league match, so there's still a sliver of hope he could be available.

The loss of both players leaves Flick without any natural right back among those he's used this season. To work around it, the coach has some alternatives: João Cancelo and Xavi Espart, who have played left back this season, can switch flanks, and Alejandro Balde also stands out as an option.

The problem doesn't end there. García's absence also hits the center of defense, an area already thin due to the absence of Andreas Christensen, who is out with a thigh muscle injury. As things stand, Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín are the only available center backs on the roster for Tuesday's match against the reigning European champion.

What if Barcelona has to improvise even further back? That's where the midfielders come in. Rodri and Frenkie de Jong have both played as center backs before, and Flick confirmed that the Dutchman is a real option for the back line after returning to training last week.

Good news elsewhere in the squad

Not everything is a setback. De Jong was already back in the squad over the weekend, and captain Raphinha reappeared off the bench in the match against Betis, meaning he will be available both for the trip to Paris and for Madrid's visit.

Barcelona heads into this decisive week with a flawless start to the season: 11 wins in 11 matches played across all competitions. Now the club will look to keep that perfect run going on French soil as well, despite the defensive absences that will force Flick to shuffle his lineup.