Focus returns this weekend back to La Liga following a draw in midweek in the Champions League for FC Barcelona in the away leg of their last 16 tie against Italian league champions Napoli. Saturday sees the visit of Getafe to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, kick off 4.15pm CET with Barça having the chance to move into second place in the table ahead of Girona for 48 hours at least as Michel’s team play on Monday at home to Rayo Vallecano.
Visitors Getafe have not made life easy for Barça in recent encounters in La Liga but José Bordalás’ team are still searching for their first victory away at FC Barcelona after 20 visits. The club from the outskirts of are having a solid season in the league and currently find themselves in 10th place in the table on 34 points, just five points off the European places in the first division.
Kick off is an early one in Europe this weekend so take advantage of our comprehensive global guide so you know exactly when and where you will be watching the blaugranes in action on Saturday.
Previous meetings
There has been just one goals in the last four meetings between Barça and Getafe in La Liga. That strike came last season from Pedri at Spotify Camp Nou to give the blaugranes a 1-0 win amidst three successive goalless draws in the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Getafe have never won in 20 visits to FC Barcelona in all competitions and have lost five in a row to the blaugranes at their home ground. The last time the visitors were able to get something out of the game away at Barça came in February 2018 when they held Ernesto Valverde’s team to a 0-0 draw in Spotify Camp Nou.
Form guide
Xavi Hernández’s team are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions with a run of three wins and two draws since a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal in January. Barça’s 2-1 win at Celta Vigo last weekend in La Liga meant they remain the only side in the division to have not lost away this season with all three of their defeats having come in the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Getafe have lost just once in their last five matches in La Liga, a 2-0 home defeat against league leaders Real Madrid. However, Bordalás’ team have won only once away from home this season in the league, winning 3-0 at Sevilla back in December.
Team news
The blaugrana manager received a boost in midweek for the game at Napoli in the Champions League with both João Félix and Sergi Roberto returning to the squad after recovering from injury and both were included in the 22 man squad for the visit of Getafe. Still missing due to injuiry are Gavi, Balde, Marcos Alonso and Ferran Torres.
Getafe boss José Bordalás named a 21 man squad for the trip to Barcelona which included former blaugranes Ilaix Moriba and Carles Aleñá with Jordi Martín and Mauro Arambarri missing due to injury.
Xavi says
“Getafe are not a defensive team, they are a brave team. They press very high up the pitch and they have picked up points at some tricky away grounds. They always compete and Bordalás always gets the most out of his players, and that is worthy or praise,” said Xavi Hernández on Friday in his pre-game press conference at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
