Barcelona will look to build on their impressive start to the new season when they host fifth-placed Getafe on Sunday night.

Having won three out of their first four La Liga outings, Getafe will be looking to cause an upset against defending champions Barcelona on Sunday. But it certainly won’t be easy, as the Catalan giants are off to a flying start and are unbeaten so far in the 2025/26 season.

Hansi Flick’s team are second on the points table with three wins and a draw in their first four league outings. They smashed Valencia 6-0 in their most recent La Liga games before beating Newcastle United 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week.

The scoreline might suggest a closely fought encounter, but in reality, the Blaugrana dominated the proceedings and were the deserved winners. They will be looking to build on these results when they square up against Getafe.

The visitors are currently fifth on the table with nine points in their four outings (W3 L1). After suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Valencia, Getafe bounced back with a 2-0 win over Real Oviedo last time out.

While it was an impressive outing for the Azulonez, who will certainly be confident about their chances, going up against the defending champions certainly won’t be easy. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Barcelona

Hansi Flick remains without the services of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde. Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal is also unlikely to be involved in this fixture, having missed the last few outings. Pau Cubarsi is expected to be fit for this outing despite the knock against Newcastle United. However, he might not start in this fixture.

Hansi Flick will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Joan Garcia will continue in goal. Jules Kounde and Gerard Martin will feature as the full-backs, while Eric Garcia should partner with Ronald Araujo in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, the double pivot will feature the ever dependable partnership of Frenkie De Jong and Pedri in the centre of the park. The duo will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game.

Dani Olmo should feature as the attacking midfielder, while Marcus Rashford and Raphinha will continue on the flanks. Ferran Torres should spearhead the Barcelona attack against Getafe on Sunday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Araujo, Martin; Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Rashford; Torres

Getafe

Getafe have no fresh injury concerns. While Juanmi remains a doubt for this fixture, everyone else is expected to be available for selection.

The visitors will start in a 3-5-2 formation, where David Soria will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Djene Dakonam, Abdel Abqar, and Domingos Duarte. Meanwhile, Kiko Femenia and Diego Rico will feature as the wing-backs.

As for the midfield unit, Mario Martin and Luis Milla will start alongside Mauro Arambarri in the middle of the park. The trio will look to protect the backline and ensure Barcelona do not dominate the ball too deep in their half.

The in-form duo of Borja Mayoral and Adrián Liso will be leading the line for Getafe against Barcelona this weekend. They will be waiting for a chance to hurt the reigning La Liga champions on the break.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Soria; Dakonam, Abqar, Duarte; Femenia, Martin, Milla, Arambarri, Rico; Mayoral, Liso

Key Stats

• Barcelona smashed six goals past Valencia in their last league outing at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
• The Blaugrana are unbeaten in the 2025/26 season, with four wins and a draw across competitions.
• Having finished 13th in the league last season, Getafe have made a sensational start to the new season with three wins and a draw in their four league outings.
• Getafe have only won four matches against Barcelona in their entire history.
• The last time Barcelona lost to Getafe was back in October 2020, away from home.

Player to Watch

Marcus Rashford

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The Manchester United academy graduate has joined Barcelona on loan to revive his career. While it was a slow start for the English international, he certainly made an impact against Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League. The 27-year-old bagged a brace and helped his team claim all three points.

While he has recorded an assist in La Liga, Rashford is still waiting for his first league goal. Given the kind of performance he put up against the Magpies, the English winger can certainly have a big say on the end result of this outing.

Prediction

Barcelona 4-1 Getafe

Barcelona will head into this clash brimming with confidence after dismantling Valencia and following it up with an impressive midweek win over Newcastle United. Hansi Flick’s men look sharp in the final third, with plenty of firepower across the front line, and they should fancy their chances of breaking down a Getafe side that has often struggled against them.

As for the visitors, their strong start to the season gives them reason to believe they can make life difficult for Barcelona. Borja Mayoral and Adrian Liso have been in fine form, and their counter-attacking threat could cause the hosts problems if they are not careful.

However, given the gulf in quality and Barcelona’s recent form, it is hard to see the visitors pulling off an upset at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-1 win for Hansi Flick and his charges.