Barcelona host Getafe with historic club record on the line

Three weeks after the season paused for international duty, Barcelona step back into LaLiga action this Saturday. Getafe stand in their way, a stubborn opponent that turns every match into a physical contest, and the leaders arrive determined to extend a dominance that has gone unquestioned so far. The numbers speak for themselves: seven wins from seven games and 31 goals scored, a return that has allowed the Catalans to open a gap before the schedule truly heats up.

• Barcelona return to LaLiga after the international break with a perfect record: 7 wins from 7 and 31 goals.
• A victory over Getafe would match the club's best-ever league start, set by Tata Martino in 2013-2014.
• The Catalans have won 22 consecutive home games in LaLiga, dating back to the first matchday of last season.
• Raphinha is out injured, but Gabriel Jesus looks set to start and Joan Garcia returns in goal.
• Getafe, 11th with 8 points, have never won in 21 visits to Barcelona.

The Tata Martino record Barcelona can match against Getafe

Beating José Bordalás' side would not only keep Barcelona clear at the top of the table. It would also allow Flick's men to equal the best league start in the club's history, matching the mark set by Gerardo Martino during the 2013-2014 campaign. That team, questioned by part of the fanbase despite the results, opened with eight consecutive victories and remained unbeaten until matchday 15. A mirror the current Barcelona side want to look into, though with the ambition to go even further.

Barcelona's home fortress: 22 straight league wins

Home solidity is another reason behind Barcelona's dominance. Since the first matchday of last season, the Catalans have not dropped a single point in front of their own fans. That is 22 consecutive league wins, a run few clubs in Europe can match. Getafe also carry a historical burden every time they visit: 21 trips, 17 defeats and only 4 draws. They have never won there.

Raphinha ruled out: how Flick reshapes the attack

The most negative news for Barcelona comes in the form of an injury. Raphinha, the team's top scorer with 12 goals and the man who opened the scoring in five of the eight official matches played, will not be available. His absence opens the door to a reshuffled starting eleven. Gabriel Jesus, who has two goals in just 41 minutes, looks set for his first major test as a starter. Joan Garcia, now fully fit, returns in goal in place of Livakovic, who featured against Sevilla.

The demanding run ahead: Getafe, Galatasaray and a Clásico on the horizon

The Getafe match marks the start of a demanding stretch for Barcelona. After hosting the Madrid side, the team will fly to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in the Champions League. A trip to Seville to take on Betis follows, and then it is back home for a European clash against PSG. All of that before the Clásico on October 25, a fixture that always shapes the narrative of any part of the calendar.

Getafe, a gritty rival with poor numbers away from home

Bordalás' team arrive in good spirits after an intense start to the season, although with a squad many consider thin for competing on multiple fronts. Getafe sit 11th with 8 points, the same tally as Valencia, second from bottom, and Málaga, last with one more game played. They have scored just 4 goals, none of them away from home, and have ground out their results by narrow margins: two wins and two draws. All five of their internationals, including Satriano, have returned without fitness concerns.

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