Barcelona Coach Flick Makes Key Changes Ahead of Getafe Clash

BARCELONA, Spain — FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has announced three significant changes to his starting lineup as the team prepares to face Getafe in a crucial La Liga match on Saturday. The decision comes on the heels of Barcelona’s dominant 5-1 victory over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals earlier this week.

Flick, who took over as Barcelona’s coach earlier this season, emphasized the challenges of playing at Getafe’s Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. “What we know from the past is that it’s hard to score there,” Flick said during a pre-match press conference. “We’ve talked about this topic, and hopefully, our plan will work.”

Barcelona narrowly defeated Getafe 1-0 in their last encounter at Montjuic, and Flick acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down José Bordalás‘ defensive setup. “That’s what we said during the team meeting. The important thing is to play the way we want,” he added.

Among the changes, Alejandro Balde will replace Gerard Martín at left back, while Inaki Pena continues in goal due to Wojciech Szczesny‘s suspension. The defensive line remains unchanged, with Jules Kounde at right back and Pau Cubarsi partnering with Ronald Araujo in central defense.

In midfield, Marc Casado will team up with Pedri in a double pivot, displacing Frenkie de Jong, who impressed in the Copa del Rey match. Dani Olmo retains his role as the central attacking midfielder, flanked by wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Robert Lewandowski, rested for the midweek fixture, returns as the central striker.

Barcelona’s squad for the match also sees the return of Andreas Christensen, who has recovered from a long-term injury. However, Iñigo Martinez remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during the Spanish Super Cup final.

With Atlético Madrid leading La Liga by six points, Flick is under pressure to deliver a strong performance against Getafe to keep Barcelona’s title hopes alive. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. local time on Saturday.