Barcelona continued their impressive run with a commanding 5-1 victory over Villarreal last weekend, propelled by two goals each from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. However, the triumph came at a significant cost as Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a ruptured patella tendon. The club has confirmed that the German goalkeeper will undergo surgery, sidelining him for an extended period.
This injury adds to an already lengthy list of absentees for head coach Hansi Flick, which has been somewhat overshadowed by the team’s remarkable performance on the pitch. In stark contrast, Getafe remains winless this season and sits third from the bottom in the league. Despite their struggles, Jose barcelona vs getafe side has shown resilience, managing to secure four draws in their top-flight matches so far.
Flick made several adjustments in the lineup against Villarreal, likely anticipating a demanding schedule with three La Liga games in just six days, including a challenging trip to Osasuna on Saturday. Notably, long-time backup goalkeeper Iñaki Peña will take over the starting position in the wake of Ter Stegen’s injury. Flick has expressed his full confidence in Peña ahead of the match. Barcelona has a 30-day window to secure an emergency goalkeeper signing due to Ter Stegen’s injury; otherwise, they will have to wait until January.
In addition to Ter Stegen, Gavi is nearing a return from his ACL injury but will need careful management upon his comeback. Dani Olmo, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen, and Fermin Lopez are all sidelined with various injuries, although Ferran Torres returns from a one-game suspension and is available as a substitute.
Barcelona’s Expected Starting XI (4-3-3):
- GK: Peña
- DEF: Koundé, Curbasi, Martínez, Balde
- MID: García, Casado, Torre
- FOR: Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Injured: Ter Stegen, Olmo, Araujo, De Jong, Christensen, Fermin Lopez, Gavi
Suspended: None
On the other hand, Getafe’s defensive midfielder Nabil Abderdin is still recovering from an undisclosed injury, making him a doubt for the match, alongside former Real Madrid forward Álvaro Rodríguez. Meanwhile, Borja Mayoral, another ex-Madrid player, recently came off the bench to score a penalty in a 1-1 derby draw against Leganés. He is expected to be on the bench again as he continues to regain his fitness following meniscus surgery.
Getafe’s Expected Starting XI (4-1-4-1):
- GK: Soria
- DEF: Djene, Berrocal, Alderete, Iglesias
- MID: Milla
- FOR: Pérez, Alena, Santiago, Sola, Uche
Injured: Abderdin, Rodríguez (doubts)
Suspended: None
As the teams prepare to face off, all eyes will be on how Barcelona copes with the absence of their star goalkeeper and whether Getafe can turn their fortunes around in this crucial clash.