By Neel Shelat
Barcelona’s free-flowing assault
Barcelona actually saved their followers entertained regardless of a scarcity of LaLiga motion during the last 4 weeks. Their brief winter break was dominated by squad registration drama surrounding Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor – who will probably be out there for now not less than – after which they gained all 4 matches performed in resounding vogue.
The victories over Barbastro within the cup and Athletic Membership within the Supercopa semifinal have been routine sufficient, however their assault discovered one more gear within the final two video games. They put 5 previous everlasting rivals Actual Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Sunday earlier than doing the identical to Actual Betis again on Spanish soil in a midweek Copa del Rey tie.
Barça alerady have been the most effective attacking workforce by fairly a big margin within the first half of the La Liga season, so the potential of them getting even higher will ship shivers down the spines of defenders across the division.
A conflict of polar reverse kinds
Whereas Barcelona historically prefer to maintain lots of the ball and put collectively slick attacking strikes, José Bordalás’ Getafe facet are fairly the other. Maybe nothing encapsulates the workforce higher than their most up-to-date consequence – a single objective win over fourth-tier Pontevedra within the Copa del Rey. This sport had all of the hallmarks of peak Bordalás-ball: a comically low possession determine, an extremely resolute defensive show and naturally, a pink card for violent conduct.
Whereas Getafe’s stats are usually not fairly so eye-catching in each singly match, they do have one in every of LaLiga’s lowest possession averages this season at 43.6% in addition to the second-lowest attacking return of simply 13 objectives.
Leisure restricted on the Coliseum
Getafe’s attacking numbers haven’t been a lot better in any of their current seasons, so the one purpose thay have been in a position to keep up is their extremely tight defence. They’re on track to repeat the trick having let in simply 16 objectives in 19 league fixtures thus far.
Unsurprisingly, then, Getafe’s video games have seen the fewest objectives scored. They’re significantly stingy at house as simply 13 objectives have been scored at each ends mixed within the 10 league matches they’ve hosted. Clearly, followers on the lookout for objectives shouldn’t count on to be too entertained on the Estadio Coliseum.
Getafe’s spectacular house report in opposition to Barcelona
Barcelona have certainly not loved any of their current visits to Getafe. In actual fact, they’ve failed to attain of their final 4 matches on the Coliseum, drawing the final three and shedding to a single objective in 2020. So, their final scorers on the venue are Luis Suárez and Junior Firpo.
A full-strength assault led by the irresistible entrance three of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will probably be eager to vary that tonight.
Prediction
Barcelona have the momentum and attacking firepower to interrupt down Getafe’s staunch defence and put an finish to their three-match winless streak in LaLiga.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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