LA LIGA PREVIEW: BARCELONA VS GETAFE

Can Barcelona continue their blistering 2023 form as they host the team based in the south of Madrid?

2023 has been kind to Barcelona so far. They've pulled 3 points away at the top, won the Spanish super cup with a typical Barcelona performance and have made great strides to enter the latter stages of the Copa del Rey. Today, they have a chance to go six points clear at the top, albeit temporarily (if Los Blancos can win in Bilbao).

Their opponents, Getafe, arrive at the Spotify Camp Nou on the back of a defeat at home to the other team from Barcelona. Their season has been wishy-washy so far. Recent form does not favour Getafe either, as they have won only one of their last five games, accruing 17 points from 17 games and sitting above the relegation zone by a hair's breadth.

INTERESTING STATS 

- Barça had gone seventeen games without defeat to Getafe, and had only conceded three goals in the last ten of them, when the run ended with a 1-0 defeat at the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in October 2020.

- Getafe have won points in two of their last four La Liga games against Barcelona (W1 D1 L2) after doing so in just one of their previous nine games against them in the competition (D1 L8). 

- But of the current La Liga teams, only against Elche (24) have Barcelona played more times at home without losing than against Getafe (17 – W13 D4).

- Barcelona have not lost any of the eight games they have played at home in La Liga this season (W6 D2), their best performance at home at this stage of the competition since the 2019/20 campaign (W7 D1).

- Getafe have lost three of their last four games in La Liga (W1) after not losing any of their previous five in the competition (W1 D4).

- Barcelona have scored at least one goal in 15 of their 16 games in La Liga this term, the highest number of games in which they have found the back of the net at this stage of the season in the top flight since 2018/19 (16/16).

- Ousmane Dembele has been involved in six of Barcelona’s last 11 La Liga goals (three goals and three assists). Only Mikel Merino (7) and Antoine Griezmann (6) has given more assists than him (5) in the top flight this season.

Last five meetings

Getafe 0-0 Barça

Barça 2-1 Getafe

Barça 5-2 Getafe

Getafe 1-0 Barça

Barça 2-1 Getafe

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

 Xavi will remain without the services of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres through suspensions. Everyone else is available for selection.

We're slowly getting used to what's being called Barça's 'Gala XI' and we expect all of them, bar Lewandowski, to start this game.

Marc Andre TerStegen, Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo will herald the backline. Xavi could decide to revert to the classic 4-3-3, so Busquets might sit this one out, giving way to a vibrant midfield trio of Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie DeJong. 

Only 3 first team forwards are available for this game and it'll be interesting to see if Xavi starts them all: Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha. Ángel Alarcón has obviously pleased Xavi as he earns his second call up to the first team. Depending on how the game goes, he might make his debut at the Camp Nou.

Getafe

As for the Deep Blue ones, Mauro Arambarri has been the only major doubt for Getafe due to an ankle injury. But the 27-year-old will likely be fit enough to make the bench this weekend. However, the midfield unit should feature Angel Algobia, Luis Milla, and former Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena.

The visitors will line up in a 5-3-2 formation, with David Soria taking his spot between the sticks. Domingos Duarte, Omar Alderete, and captain Djene Dakonam will likely form the central defensive unit. And Juan Iglesias and Portu should be the two full-backs.

Enes Unal and Borja Mayoral will partner up in attack.

Where and when are Barcelona vs Getafe playing?

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Stadium: Camp Nou

Date: Sunday 22 January

Kick-off Time: 17:30 GMT / 12:30 EST / 09:30 PST 18:30 🇳🇬

Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva

This is the first League action for Barcelona since their win at the Wanda Metropolitano, but it isn't expected that such a break will be enough to throw them off their domestic groove. 

Getafe have proven difficult for the Catalans in the past and the same is expected here as they're fighting to stay up. However, the gulf in form and quality between the two sides should be enough to earn Barcelona the win.

COPA DEL REY PREVIEW: AD CEUTA VS BARCELONA

The La Liga leaders will be traveling to the Spanish Province in Africa in order to book their spot in the quarter finals of the king's cup.

It's been a positive 2023 so far for FC Barcelona. Moving up 3 points at the top of the table and winning the Spanish super cup will generate positive feelings in the squad and it's expected that they carry that to Ceuta, 12 hours away from home, where they play the only non- top flight team remaining in the competition.

Ceuta have been abysmal in the third division, sitting last in the table, but they've had an excellent cup campaign so far overcoming Utrera, Ibiza and Elche to reach this stage. Against Barcelona however, the biggest game they'll probably ever play, Ceuta know they have a mountain to climb but will gain hope from Intercity's brave showing to put on one of their own. 

INTERESTING STATS

- Ceuta and Barcelona have faced off thrice in the Copa Del Rey, with the Blaugrana winning all the games by an aggregate of 10-1. Ceuta have failed to score against Barcelona in both of their home clashes so far.

- Ceuta have never gotten past the Round of 16 round of the Copa Del Rey. This is their most successful campaign in the competition so far.

- Barcelona are the most successful side in the history of the Copa Del Rey, winning the trophy 31 times.

- Barcelona are also the side with the most finals appearances in the competition. They have made the showpiece event 42 times.

-Barcelona are only one of three teams to win the competition four years in a row. They are also the only club to do so in the post-World War II era.

TEAM NEWS

Ceuta

Jose Juan Romero has a fully fit squad at his disposal and should retain faith in his 4-2-3-1 system. Leandro Montagud should start in goal behind the back four of Alain Garcia Fernandez, Juan Gutierrez Martinez, Robin Lafarge and Alejandro Macias Sanchez.

Adri Cuevas and Alberto Reina Campos will be tasked with anchoring the midfield, providing the base for Antonio Manuel Gonzalez Gomez, Jose Manuel Lopez Plaza and Liberto Beltran to get forward when needed.

Rodri Rios should lead the line and will act as the attack’s spearhead.

Barcelona

With a fullt fit sqaud at his disposal, Xavi is expected to rotate massively. Pena will replace Marc Andre TerStegen in goal, Hector Bellerin, Eric Garcia, Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba are expected to return the starting lineup at the back.

Pablo Torre and Franck Kessie are also expected to start, along with Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, who are set to miss the next 2 La Liga games. Ansu Fati and Raphinha are also expected to feature after being largely rested against Real Madrid. 

Ángel Alarcón from Barca Athletic has traveled with the squad. A left winger / centre forward, he could end up being the ideal replacement for the departed Memphis Depay.

When and where is AD Ceuta vs FC Barcelona played?

City: Ceuta

Stadium: Alfonso Murube

Day and time: Thursday, January 19 . 8:00 p.m. Spain, 1:00 p.m. Mexico, 4:00 p.m. Argentina, 8pm 🇳🇬

Referee: TBD

VAR: TBD

This is the easiest draw Barcelona could've gotten, given the teams that were left in the competition. As long as they improve on their errors against Intercity, this should be a walk in the park for Xavi's men.