At a glance
- FC Barcelona face Getafe on La Liga Matchday 33 at 16:15 local time.
- The Catalans can go 11 points ahead through a win, after Real Madrid drew 1-1 to Real Betis on Friday.
- However they’ll try to do that without Lamine Yamal or Raphinha, at a ground they’ve not won in since September 2019.
- FC Barcelona Confirmed Starting XI: Garcia; Koundé, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Gavi; Fermin, Olmo, Roony, Lewandowski
Only in Spain could you take a “trip to the dentist’s” at the Coliseum.
According to SPORT, that’s what’s on FC Barcelona’s itinerary this afternoon in Madrid’s deep southern reaches when they take on Getafe.
Thanks to La Masia pupil Hector Bellerin scoring an injury time equaliser against Los Blancos, there’s the chance to go 11 points clear at the top through a victory here.
This increases the chances of Real Madrid having to perform a “pasillo” guard of honour for the La Liga title winners in El Clasico on May 10.
Yet before we get carried away, Barca have to get a win at a tough venue where they haven’t managed to come out on top since the Lionel Messi era in 2019.
They’ll also have to try that without their two best wingers in Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who are both injured with hamstring knocks leaving Hansi Flick to rethink his attacking plan.
Bad news for Marcus Rashford
Drifting away from Barca while Sporting Director Deco wishes to spend the €30 million it would take to keep him on another winger, Marcus Rashford looks to have finished in the starting XI.
With Raphinha out, Flick would prefer to use a midfielder on the left wing as we saw in the last two outings against Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo.
In this instance, its Fermin Lopez who gets the nod, while Gavi is favoured over Frenkie de Jong to partner Pedri.
Lamine’s absence paves the way for his substitute against Vigo, Roony Bardghji, to earn much needed minutes in the elite and perhaps convince the club to not send him out on loan next term.
Robert Lewandowski is the striker, in a rare start amid Ferran Torres being the preferred 9 as of late.
He could’ve got on the scoresheet midweek too when converting Roony’s pass. But VAR thought otherwise, and so it goes.
Back in defence, Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Jules Koundé will attempt to defend Joan Garcia’s goal.
The keys to victory in Barcelona Vs. Getafe
Against one of the roughest teams in the league in Jose Bardalas’ outfit, Barca will have to know how to suffer and fight for every ball as if it’s their last.
Lacking the magic of Lamine, and the directness of Raphinha, Barca need to be more practical by circulating the ball quickly and shutting up shop if they manage to go ahead – which is also key at this ground.
FC Barcelona Confirmed Starting XI: Garcia; Koundé, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Gavi; Fermin, Olmo, Roony, Lewandowski
