The 2023/24 La Liga season gets underway on Friday night but defending champions Barcelona must wait two additional days to kick off their campaign at Getafe.
Xavi’s side have a target on their back after romping to the title last year, and will hope to not only defend their crown but also make a splash in the Champions League as well this season.
Getafe are their first opponents, which is the sort of game Xavi would have requested to get things underway, though Barcelona‘s personnel on the field may not differ too much from last season.
Here’s 90min’s preview of the game.
Getafe vs Barcelona H2H record (Last Five Games)
Current form (Last Five Games)
|
Country |
TV channel / Live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Viaplay Sports 1, ITVX, LaLigaTV, Viaplay UK, ITV 4 |
|
United States |
ESPN+, ESPN Deportes |
|
Canada |
TSN4, TSN3, TSN+ |
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Getafe’s final game of pre-season was a feisty 4-1 win over Dutch side Vitesse, with both sides having a player sent off.
Jose Bordelas is expected to give Carlos Alena the chance the play against his old team – having scored against Vitesse – while a start may also be handed to former Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral.
Getafe predicted lineup (4-4-2): Soria; Suarez, Djene, Domingos, Gaston; Alena, Maksimovic, Latase, Mata; Mayoral, Portu
Barcelona are yet to formally register new signing Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez and Oriol Romeu, meaning they may not be able to make their debuts.
Xavi gave 20 different players minutes in their final pre-season friendly of the summer, a comeback 4-2 win over Tottenham in the Joan Gamper Trophy, and there’s no real injury concerns to speak of.
That could see the legendary Spaniard opt for an exciting midfield trio of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi, with Robert Lewandowski leading the line up front.
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Garcia, Balde; De Jong, Gavi, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati
Getafe were one of many teams that only narrowly avoided relegation last season, and there’s currently no reason to think their situation will be any different.
Barcelona couldn’t find a way through in their most recent encounter in April, but the title was all but sewn up by then and their will be an added drive to get the new season off to a good start.
The Catalan giants may be about to lose Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain, but they shouldn’t feel his absence too much in what should be a comfortable opening day win.
