Barcelona have had a chaotic few months since winning La Liga last season, but they will have to put transfer talk to the side as they face a tough trip to Getafe on Sunday to begin their title defence.
Xavi’s side have had to contend with financial issues and transfer market mayhem, having managed to sign Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu and Inigo Martinez, but are about to lose Ousmane Dembele to PSG.
Barcelona’s financial problems means they are yet to register a number of players ahead of the start of the season, but they are reportedly confident that they will be able to field a full team with their new signings all confirmed.
Xavi faces a selection headache as Barcelona travel to Coliseium Alfonso Perez to face a Getafe side once again under the management of Jose ‘Pepe’ Bordalas. Expect a lot of yellow cards and tough tackles, as Barcelona will have to grind this one out.
Attempting to replace Dembele could be difficult, and Xavi is yet to see his desired right-back come in, meaning he will have to think of an internal solution for Sunday’s game.
Who could start against Getafe?
The defence remains one of the biggest mysteries in terms of selection. Inigo Martinez is injured, and it seems unlikely that one of Sergino Dest or Sergi Roberto will start.
Jules Kounde could start at right-back, despite reports indicating that he wanted to move back to the centre, and Xavi has been handed a boost with both Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo reportedly fit.
Going on the assumption that Barcelona will register their necessary players in time, both new signings Romeu and Gundogan could line up alongside Frenkie De Jong in the middle, with Pedri playing on the left in an inverted role.
This would see Gavi on the bench. The young Spaniard has not had a full pre-season campaign and may be eased in at the start of the season.
Raphinha will likely start on the right despite the good form of Ferran Torres in pre-season, whilst Robert Lewandowski will play through the middle.
The likes of Ansu Fati and even Yamine Lamal could appear off the bench in what is expected to be a fierce game against physical opponents, but one Barcelona should win as they prepare for a tough season at the top of La Liga.
Barcelona predicted XI vs Getafe: Ter-Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; De Jong, Romeu, Gundogan, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski (4-3-3)