Getafe host Barcelona on matchday 6 in La Liga at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez with their eyes on a major upset. The home team took seven points from their opening 12 available.
Jose Bordalas’s team have not taken points off of Barcelona since the 2017-18 La Liga season. The Blaugrana have won four straight games against Getafe heading into the weekend.
Barcelona dropped points for the first time this season when they drew 1-1 versus Sevilla prior to the October international break. Ronald Koeman’s team took seven points from their opening nine available. Unlike Getafe, Barcelona have played one fewer game this term.
Koeman has won over his players with his no-nonsense approach to football. The manager brought fresh ideas to the team and has players such as Ansu Fati and Lionel Messi playing well.
Barcelona have not lost to Getafe since 2011-12 in La Liga. The Blaugrana are on a 17-match unbeaten run versus Getafe with a record of 14W-3D-0L. Last season’s games between the sides ended with Barcelona winning both fixtures by a combined score of 4-1.
The big worry for Koeman is his team’s fitness. A number of Barcelona players played for their national teams during the international break.
Lionel Messi played for Argentina in Bolivia on Tuesday and had to make the long flight back to Spain following the fixture. Travelling and playing in World Cup qualifying matches could take their toll on Messi. It could also lead Koeman to rest the Argentine from the start.
Several Barcelona players are on the team’s injured list. Jordi Alba, Samuel Umtiti, and starting goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen are all injured and likely to miss the game.
Ter Stegen’s injury will keep him out of the game and allow Neto to continue in goal. Koeman has preferred to play Messi as a central striker with Philippe Coutinho as the No. 10 behind him. Antoine Griezmann and Fati have played on the wings.
Coutinho, Griezmann and Fati all played during the international break with their respective national teams. European sides played three games during the international break. Fatigue could be a real problem for Barcelona.
Getafe’s La Liga games have been low scoring. They conceded just three times in their opening four games. Meanwhile, they scored just four goals. Saturday’s game should be low scoring as Bordalas’s team keep things tight at the back.
The Madrid side kept a clean sheet in each of their opening three games in La Liga. It wasn’t until their most recent domestic game against Real Sociedad that goals were conceded.
Getafe will keep things tight this weekend and hold a tired Barcelona. Saturday’s game should end in a score draw as under 2.5 goals are tallied by Getafe and Barcelona.