PREVIEW | Getafe v FC Barcelona

The preseason drew to a close on Tuesday with a dramatic 4-2 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur in the Joan Gamper Trophy. That was fun. The US Tour was an equally wonderful exercise. But that’s the end of the warm-ups. Sunday 9.30pm CEST is the time things get real. La Liga gets under way for FC Barcelona, and the opening fixture is not one that has gone too well in recent seasons.

Three years ago, Barça lost 1-0 at Getafe. And the two visits since then have both ended in 0-0 draws. In other words, not only are the Catalans winless, but they haven’t even scored in their last three trips to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

But we always have to careful how we interpret stats. Viewed another way, Getafe is also the only team that Xavi has met three times as Barça manager without conceding a single goal.

What is clear is that if recent results between these two teams are anything to by, we are unlikely to kick-off the new season with a goal-fest.

But 2023/24 is a fresh start. Some players have left and new ones have come in, and judging by the atmosphere in the blaugrana camp, there is a very clear mood that while last season was generally a very fine one indeed, the one that’s just starting is going to be even better still.

Did you know?

Barça have only lost their opening game of a Liga season once this century (to Athletic Club in 2019). Getafe, in contrast, have started nine of their last 12 campaigns with a defeat.

Barça are looking to avoid a third consecutive away defeat in La Liga for the first time since 2002. That said, the last two losses (to Valladolid and Celta) did come after they had already made mathematically sure of the championship title.

Last five meetings

16/04/23 Getafe 0-0 Barça (see video, below)
22/01/23 Barça 1-0 Getafe
15/05/22 Getafe 0-0 Barça
29/08/21 Barça 2-1 Getafe
22/04/21 Barça 5-2 Getafe

Team news

New signing Iñigo Martínez is still carrying the injury he picked up at Athletic last season, but other than that, Xavi has a full squad to choose from, including the other two new acquisitions, İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City) and Oriol Romeu (Girona), both of whom are in line to make their official debuts after being registered in time, along with Ez Abde, who is back from his loan spell at Osasuna, and new first captain Sergi Roberto, whose contract has been extended by an extra year.

All four were named in the squad shortly before the party departed on a flight to the Spanish capital on Sunday morning. The senior squad members are being joined on the trip by youngsters Ander Astralaga (goalkeeper), Lamine Yamal, Marc Casadó and Fermín Lopez.

Getafe are starting the season without any of Carmona, Arambarri, Milla or perhaps most importantly of all, their top scorer last season, Turkish international Enes Ünal.

Xavi's thoughts

Here are some of the coach's key takes on the game during the pre-match press conference:

"The team is looking confident and feeling good. Of course we have to play a very strong and defensively robust team. It's a very difficult first game, but we'll try to play our way and control the game, and give our best from the off."

"We need a lot of movement and bodies in the area against teams that play with a low block."