La Liga: Established Home Banker or Can Getafe Spring a Surprise?

Barcelona vs Getafe

There would have been a time when this was a routine La Liga home victory, a “home banker” as they call it.

It probably still is in many ways when you consider the financial differences between the two clubs – even accounting for Barcelona‘s current predicament.

This time around, though, Getafe may fancy themselves to frustrate their illustrious Catalonia opponents and create some uplifting La Liga 2021 highlights in the process for longer than normal.

That may seem odd given Getafe have lost both their opening games and Barcelona sit on four points.

Yet that hardly tells the full story with Getafe only going down to Sevilla on Monday night thanks to an injury time Erik Lamela goal and narrowly losing their opening match to Valencia and an early penalty.

In fact, if they can maintain the discipline displayed in their opening two encounters and can concentrate on not being caught out early or late in matches, perhaps Barcelona in for a tougher time than they realise this Sunday teatime.

Talking Points

I must admit, I’ve not seen much of Getafe in recent years.

In fact, the last time I recall was little over a year ago when they played party poopers for a while before going down to Real Madrid who duly reclaimed the La Liga title at the expense of Barca.

Getafe manager Michel eyes to stun Camp Nou as they face Barcelona for La Liga's Gameweek 3 — Getafe manager Michel stands on the sideline during their La Liga match against Valencia

Boss Michel and his hardworking team have been one of the surprise success stories in recent years in La Liga, returning via the playoffs four seasons ago before finishing in eighth place to easily avoid relegation.

To then finish fifth,w hich is their highest ever position in the top-flight, and actually qualifying for the Europa league group stage where they progressed to the last 16 before losing to eventual finalists Inter Milan and it’s easy to see why they should not be dismissed with ease even if they finished back in a lowly 15th place last term.

Their main thought in recent days is whether or not they will get to see Marc Cucurella back in action again.

Cucurella has been given vacation time until next month after participating in the under-21 European Championships earlier in the summer before heading to Tokyo to compete in the Olympics, winning a silver medal with La Roja.

However, reports suggest English Premier League club Brighton are willing to pay the 23-year-old’s release clause which, if it happens, would be the largest sale in Los Azulones’ history.

Let us wait and see.

While many Getafe fans hope he stays, Barcelona remain a club still reeling from the departure of their ultimate superstar.

After stalwart defender Gerard Pique’s wonderful gesture, Jordi Alba this week reached an agreement with Barcelona to reduce his salary as the left-back looks to do his part to help the club’s difficult financial situation.

Pique was the first of the four captains to agree to a paycut which allowed Barcelona to register Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia, and B team striker Rey Manaj in time for the opening weekend of the new season.

As they find their way in the post-Lionel Messi era, it is just possible a new fan-favourite could be emerging.

Certainly, Depay plays with passion and scored a blistering first goal for his new club last weekend which will endear to him to his new supporters – with real potential and perhaps the start of a new relationship?

For now, however, the question remains can Getafe end this fixture’s “home banker” status and test a defence missing both the injured Pique and suspended Garcia.

It’s off to Camp Nou on Sunday teatime.

History

Getafe may have only beaten Barcelona four times in 17 years and that is no easy feat given that Barca have been the best side in Europe for a good chunk of that time. But I bet their fans remember each success.

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La Liga

One was last season when a Jaime Mata penalty clinched a famous Getafe victory.

The return fixture saw Messi score twice as Barca ran out 5-2 winners, although two goals in the last three minutes put a rather one-sided slant on the scoreline.

Getafe’s most famous victory in that time was in the Copa del Rey semi-finals in 2007 when they overturned a 5-2 deficit, pulling off a remarkable second leg 4-0 triumph to reach the showpiece – a contest they lost 1-0 to Sevilla.