Barcelona will aim to keep their perfect league record intact when they host winless Getafe on Wednesday evening. The Blaugrana are currently four points clear at the top of the table, while Getafe finds themselves in the bottom three.
Hansi Flick has made a strong start as Barcelona's manager, guiding the team to victory in all six of their opening league matches. After three narrow 2-1 wins, they've really hit their stride recently, scoring 7-1 against Real Valladolid and 4-1 against Girona, before a solid 5-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday.
Despite suffering a disappointing Champions League defeat to Monaco before that match, Barcelona bounced back impressively against Villarreal, where they had three goals disallowed.
Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both scored twice, along with Pablo Torre’s first La Liga goal, although the victory was marred by a serious knee injury to goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
While Ter Stegen's injury might have cast a shadow over the team's morale, Barcelona can take pride in extending their unbeaten away league streak against Villarreal to 16 matches (12 wins, 4 draws), and maintaining their four-point lead over rivals Real Madrid.
After playing three consecutive away matches, the Blaugrana return to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where they’ve dropped only two points in their last ten home league games. They have a solid track record against Getafe, having won their last six home encounters, scoring 16 goals while conceding just four.
On the other hand, Getafe is still seeking their first win of the season, with four draws and two losses from their six matches. After finishing 12th last season, they began the 2024-25 campaign with three straight draws but then suffered back-to-back defeats to Sevilla and Real Betis. They managed to salvage a point in Sunday’s derby against Leganés, thanks to Borja Mayoral’s late penalty.
While Getafe has conceded fewer goals than most teams, they are also among the lowest scorers in La Liga, netting just three times in six matches. Their struggles in attack have led to an 11-game winless streak, with their last victory coming in April against Almería.
Although a win against the league leaders may seem daunting, Getafe will be looking to secure their first away point against Barcelona since February 2018.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Barcelona have confirmed that Marc-André ter Stegen has ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee and has undergone surgery as he begins a lengthy recovery process.
Inaki Peña stepped in for Ter Stegen just before halftime in the match against Villarreal, and the 25-year-old is now set to make his first start of the 2024-25 season.
Ter Stegen joins a long list of injured players, which includes Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Dani Olmo, and Fermin Lopez.
After rotating his squad over the weekend, coach Hansi Flick is expected to bring back Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, and Marc Casado, while Ferran Torres will return after serving a one-match ban.
Robert Lewandowski will continue to lead the attack, aiming to set a new record as he has already matched Jan Urban for the most goals scored (48) by a Polish player in La Liga.
On the visitor's side, Getafe will need to evaluate defender Nabil Aberdin, who has missed the last three matches due to injury. Former Real Madrid forward Álvaro Rodríguez is also dealing with an ankle issue and remains uncertain for his Getafe debut.
Alex Sola and Carles Pérez are both vying for starting positions after coming on as substitutes in Sunday’s derby. Meanwhile, Borja Mayoral, who has been used as a substitute in the last two matches, could get his first start since returning from a lengthy injury layoff.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Raphinha, Torres; Lewandowski
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Djene, Berrocal, Alderete, Rico; Perez, Uche, Milla, Sola; Mayoral
EXPERT PREDICTION
Barcelona 4-1 Getafe
Getafe are typically a tough team to break down with their strong defense, but they might have a hard time handling Barcelona's attacking firepower. The hosts have found the net 16 times in their last three league matches, which could pose a significant challenge for Getafe's backline.
