Barcelona aiming to make it 8 wins from 8 against Getafe
By Matt Smith
The Barcelona supporters can’t have asked for much more from Hansi Flick’s side sit top of the LaLiga table with seven wins from seven. They’ve scored a whopping 31 goals, averaging over four per game.
Despite a reasonable start to the season, Getafe will be heading into this game with plenty of dread. Not only are they facing a Barcelona side in red-hot form, they are also winless in their previous eight trips to the Spotify Camp Nou.
Getafe’s last trip to Barcelona saw them suffer a 3-0 defeat, with Flick’s men incredibly comfortable that day.
Team news
Barcelona have suffered a crucial blow heading into this game, with Raphinha ruled out. The Brazilian forward picked up a thigh injury during the international break, and Flick has confirmed he’s unavailable.
Frenkie de Jong, Rooney Bardghji, and Andreas Christensen will also be missing for Barcelona.
Getafe have some injury problems of their own, with Christantus Uche and Juanmi unavailable once again. Abdel Aqbar and Kiko Femenía could also miss out.
Barcelona must find Raphinha solution
Raphinha has been deployed in a relatively new position so far this season, with Flick opting to play the former Leeds man as a central striker. It’s a decision that has certainly paid dividends, with Raphinha scoring 12 league goals while providing three assists.
Raphinha’s injury could see Gabriel Jesus come into the side in the centre-forward position, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Flick had another trick up his sleeve. Anthony Gordon has played as a striker at times during his career, while Karim Adeyemi has also been a regular up front in the past.
Getafe must improve going forward
Getafe are well-known for their defensive solidity, often having one of the best defensive records in LaLiga under José Bordalás. This season, they’ve conceded just seven times, with three of those coming on the opening day of the campaign.
Going forward is where Getafe really struggle. No side has created fewer expected goals (4.8) this season, with Getafe bottom of that metric by some distance. Bordalás’ side have found the back of the net just four times, and that lack of creativity must improve against a team like Barcelona.
Time for Gabriel Jesus to arrive
The injury to Raphinha is likely to open up an opportunity for Jesus to prove himself to Flick. The Brazilian has had minimal chances so far this season, due to the form of Raphinha, but he’s been a threat in front of goal during his minimal amount of minutes.
The former Arsenal man has played just four times for Barcelona this season, playing a total of 41 minutes. Despite the lack of game time, he’s found the back of the net twice, and he could now be in line for his first start.
Prediction
Getafe are going to struggle to score, and that’s something Barcelona certainly know how to do: Barça 4-0 Getafe.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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