Barcelona will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches when they welcome Getafe to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
Xavi's side are currently third in the table, eight points behind division leaders Real Madrid, while Getafe occupy 10th position, six points behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad.
Match preview
© Reuters
Since Xavi announced that he would be standing down as head coach at the end of the campaign, Barcelona are unbeaten in five matches, recording three wins and posting two draws during a solid run of form.
Four of those matches have taken place in La Liga, with the champions picking up 10 points from games against Osasuna, Alaves, Granada and Celta Vigo, and they currently sit third in the table, eight points behind leaders Real Madrid and three ahead of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona were in Champions League action on Wednesday evening, meanwhile, drawing 1-1 with Italian champions Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 contest in Naples.
The Catalan side have another three league matches against Getafe, Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca before welcoming Napoli for the second leg of their clash on March 12, and it would be some story if Xavi could deliver the Champions League title to the club before standing down as head coach.
Barcelona have lost three times at their temporary home in the league this season, but Getafe have found it difficult on their travels, only picking up 10 points from their 13 games away from their own stadium, recording just one win.
© Reuters
Getafe have held Barcelona to goalless draws in three of their last four meetings in Spain's top flight, while they only suffered a 1-0 defeat in the corresponding game during the 2022-23 campaign.
The Deep Blue Ones have finished 15th in each of their last three La Liga campaigns, but the capital outfit have performed above expectations this term, sitting in 10th position in the table.
Getafe have won eight, drawn 10 and lost seven of their 25 league matches this season to collect 34 points, and they are only six points behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad, so a European finish this term is not beyond them.
Jose Bordalas's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Villarreal, which made it five points from their three league games since a 2-0 home defeat to Real Madrid at the start of the month.
Getafe have only lost one of their last five matches in Spain's top flight, while they have picked up draws in three of their last four on the road, including a 3-3 with Atletico towards the end of last year.
Team News
© Reuters
Barcelona had Joao Felix and Sergi Roberto back in their squad against Napoli, with the former entering the field in the latter stages of the contest.
The club's injury list has therefore been cut to four, with Ferran Torres, Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Marcos Alonso the players currently unavailable for selection.
Head coach Xavi has plenty of options for change, but he is unlikely to want to disrupt the side too much following a strong performance against Napoli.
The fitness of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal will need to be monitored, though, and it would not be a surprise to see Raphinha introduced in the final third of the field for Saturday's contest.
As for Getafe, Mauro Arambarri is out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury, while Fabricio Angileri remains a doubt due to a muscular problem.
The capital outfit will also need to make a late check on Jordi Martin, who was forced off against Villarreal last time out, and it is likely that Carles Alena will now come in for a start.
On-loan Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is being heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer, and the Englishman will again be in the Getafe XI for this contest.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, I Martinez, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, F de Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Dakonam, Alderete, Rico; Greenwood, Maksimovic, Milla, Alena; Mayoral, Mata
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Getafe
Getafe have enough quality to pick up a positive result on Saturday, and it would not be a surprise to see the points shared. Barcelona's form is good, though, and we are expecting the reigning champions to edge a close affair to secure all three points in front of their own supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
