Barcelona are back in La Liga action on Saturday night as they travel to the Spanish capital to face Getafe.
After starting the season on an imperious note, Barca struggled their way to the end of 2024 and have relinquished control of the title race. They sit third in the table ahead of their first LaLiga outing of the year, with Atletico Madrid leading the way amid a remarkable run of form.
Hansi Flick’s side are currently six points back, but La Blaugrana have enjoyed themselves over the past week. After thumping Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana, Barca again scored five to qualify for the Copa del Rey quarter-finals at Real Betis’ expense.
Their upcoming opponents, Getafe, are also in the last eight after they edged past Pontevedra 1-0.
We know what we’re going to get from Jose Borderlas’ Getafe. Few managers are more wedded to the 4-4-2 than the 60-year-old manager.
The hosts will have La Masia graduate Carlos Alena pulling the strings in the middle of the park, but Diego Rico and Alvaro Rodriguez are suspended. Yellu Santiago, Allan Nyom and Juan Berrocal are injury doubts.
Borderlas made changes for Getafe’s Copa del Rey triumph in midweek, and we’ll see the likes of Borja Mayoral and stalwart centre-back Djene back in the starting lineup.
Getafe predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-4-2): Soria; Dakonam, Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias; Alena, Milla, Arambarri, Coba; Uche, Mayoral.
Andreas Christensen has returned to training following a lengthy layoff as a result of an Achilles injury. He could be back in the matchday squad this weekend but has fallen down the centre-back depth chart.
The visitors are without Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Inigo Martinez through injury. In Martinez’s absence, captain Ronald Araujo will retain his place alongside teenager Pau Cubarsi.
Dani Olmo is eligible to play amid a registration dispute and was in the starting XI on Wednesday. Gavi, however, is staking a claim to usurp his compatriot as Barca’s number ten. Marc Casado and Robert Lewandowski are among the players likely to come into Flick’s team on Saturday after earning midweek respite.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Getafe (4-2-3-1): Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
