Barça seeks cruising speed against Getafe
Xavi’s men want to take advantage of their great moment and reinforce their leadership against an injured rival
MADRID, 21 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona receives Getafe this Sunday (6:30 p.m.) on matchday 18 of LaLiga Santander, a duel that is not only affordable but ideal a priori for the leader to express his good moment, although the people of Madrid will want to get out of their crisis at the Spotify Camp Nou .
Xavi Hernández’s team counts their games in 2023 as victories, despite the fact that there were doubts in the game after the break for the World Cup in the draw against Espanyol, the juggling in the Cup against Intercity and in the undeserved victory against Athletic.
Barça had its period of coupling and adaptation to the march and, after winning the Spanish Super Cup, at the expense of Betis and Real Madrid, it seems once again in the line of becoming strong in Xavi’s project. The Tarrasa coach, for the moment, already has the first title and his team plays the way it wants and gets results.
The last test was the Cup against Ceuta, a rival of a lower category that did not worry the Barca giant at all, concentrated and effective to carry out the commitment with authority (0-5). After securing one more step in the fight for another title, which will face Real Sociedad in the quarterfinals, the league battle returns to the attention of a Barça with the clear objective of reconquest.
After the titles of Real Madrid, Atlético and Real Madrid in the last three years, the Barça team seeks the throne in the regularity tournament, which it has held in eight of the previous 11 seasons. Nearing the end of the first round, the Catalan team leads after 16 games, with 41 points to Madrid’s 38, in what points to a one-on-one if Real, Atlético, Betis and Villarreal do not prevent it against the odds.
Xavi’s men took advantage of the Whites’ last win against ‘Submarino’ to enjoy that three-point cushion that they will try to increase against Getafe, while Carlo Ancelotti’s men close on Sunday with a demanding game in San Mamés against Athletic Club. Quique Sánchez Flores’ men have two victories in the last 11 league games and are only one point above relegation.
GETAFE HAS NEVER WON AT THE CAMP NOU
The ‘azulón’ coach heard the “Quique go now” from the Coliseum stands after the last defeat against Espanyol and his team, in addition to results, cannot find their game despite having talent in their ranks. Getafe, who have never won at the Camp Nou in their history, trust their luck to the duo Enes Ünal and Borja Mayoral, and to a block that knows how to suffer against the Catalans.
And it is that 90 minutes can be very long in the Barça fiefdom, where without a doubt Xavi’s men will try to be protagonists with the ball. In the center of the field, Sánchez Flores has the loss of Mauro Arambarri. An ex of the Catalans like Aleñá will want to vindicate himself, while Munir is doubtful, and give criteria to a Getafe that will have to be solid at the back to stop a Barça that will not be able to count on Robert Lewandowski or Ferran Torres due to suspension.
The culé coach advanced after the game in Ceuta that Ansu Fati will have his chance from the starting eleven, one last important piece that Xavi wants to add to the cause. Dembélé, Gavi, MVP of the Super Cup final, Pedri, De Jong, Araujo, Balde, at Barça the sweet moment is general and individual, in search of cruising speed to cement the assault on the League.
DATASHEET:
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, A. Balde; Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Dembele, Gavi, Ansu Fati.
GETAFE: David Soria; Damián Suárez, Djené, Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias; Luis Milla, Aleñá, Algobia; Enes Unal, Borja Mayoral.
–REFEREE: Iglesias Villanueva. (C. Galicia).
–STADIUM: Spotify Camp Nou.
–TIME: 6:30 p.m./Movistar.