FC Barcelona Versus Getafe Preview, Team News And Lineup

FC Barcelona will look to keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid when they face Getafe at the Camp Nou on Thursday, and can rise up to third two points off the chase with a win.

The Blaugrana are in high spirits on the pitch, after having dismantled Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final 4-0, in turn ending a near-two year trophy drought, but the scandal of attempting to join the European Super League engulfs the club.

With new president Joan Laporta still yet to publicly address fans and socios on the matter, it was left to coach Ronald Koeman to weather an avalanche of questions from the Catalan media at his prematch press conference.

Though saying he agreed with a tweet from Gerard Pique that claimed football is for the fans, the Dutch Dream Team legend remained tight-lipped.

“I talked about the Super League with the president yesterday, and he explained the club's stance to me,” Koeman said.

“But there has been so much movement since yesterday that it is best not to comment, so many things can happen that it is better to wait. I want the best for the club,” he added.

“Players want to win titles,' Koeman answered, when asked if he thought the furor would be a distraction for his men. “I don't doubt my players, we'll be fine in tomorrow's game,” he vowed.

Starting in goal for Barca in this must-win tie will be Marc-Andre Ter Stegen supported by a back line trio of Clement Lenglet, Gerard Pique and Oscar Mingueza from left to right.

Further up in midfield, as part of a 3-5-2, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto play as wingbacks while pivot Sergio Busquets allows Frenkie de Jong and Pedri to star in more advanced positions.

Up top, a Lionel Messi who has scored more goals this season (23) than the entire Getafe squad put together partners Ousmane Dembele, as Antoine Griezmann rides the bench.

Described by local newspapers as one of eight “finals” that remain for the home team in 2020/2021, Barca will look to extract revenge on their opponents for a 1-0 defeat in October that looked to be the beginning of the end for Koeman.

Thanks to a 19-game unbeaten streak only recently ended by Real Madrid in El Clasico, though, the Catalans are a different package altogether now buoyed by the mentioned dalliance with silverware that has put wind into their sails.