Whether it's down to the ceaseless demands of their expectant fanbase or the rigid requirements of La Liga's accountants, Barcelona cannot afford a season of transition.
The club may be moving away from their home for the first time in six decades and filling yawning chasms left by the departure of several hulking figures, including captain Sergio Busquets and the enigmatic winger Ousmane Dembele, but Xavi Hernandez's task remains unchanged; win it all.
After a La Liga opener against Getafe on Sunday night, here's what lies ahead for Barcelona in the coming campaign.
Barcelona vs Cadiz - La Liga
It's safe to say that Xavi sees the game in a different way to Cadiz's head coach Sergio. Barcelona's boss is open about his obsession with possession. "It's clear to me my team has to control the ball," he once said, "I suffer when I don’t have it."
No team in La Liga attempted fewer passes than Cadiz last season. Barcelona will certainly dominate the ball for their first competitive fixture at their new home in Montjuic next Sunday, but will they put it in the net? (Probably.)
- 20/08/2023 - Barcelona vs Cadiz (18:30)
Villarreal vs Barcelona - La Liga
Quique Setien is another possession addict, preaching from the altar of Johan Cruyff with such enthusiasm that he talked his way into briefly becoming Barcelona manager in 2020.
Unai Emery's replacement at Villarreal last term earned just one point fewer than Real Madrid across his 27 league games in charge. After losing two star forwards in the form of Nicolas Jackson (to Chelsea) and Samu Chukwueze (AC Milan), it remains to be seen if the Yellow Submarine can rediscover their form.
- 27/08/2023 - Villarreal vs Barcelona (16:30)
Osasuna vs Barcelona - La Liga
Barcelona travel to Osasuna's famed El Sadar stadium just three days after the second leg of their Europa Conference League play-off.
Last season's surprise package in seventh place and also reached the Copa del Rey final - where they were beaten by Real Madrid. Barcelona could encounter a team riding high as they embark upon their first group stage of a European competition since 2006/07.
- 03/09/2023 - Osasuna vs Barcelona (20:00)
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Barcelona vs Real Betis - La Liga
Real Betis were a bizarre anomaly last season; despite committing the second-fewest fouls in La Liga, Manuel Pellegrini's side collected a league-high 15 red cards.
In both of Betis' matches with Barcelona last term, the Seville outfit ended the contest with just ten players. Xavi's side, by comparison, recorded more fouls than Betis but only received six red cards.
- 16-17/09/2023 - Barcelona vs Real Betis
Barcelona vs TBC - Champions League
Xavi enjoyed remarkable success in the Champions League as a player but has repeatedly come unstuck in the competition during his embryonic managerial career.
After consecutive group-stage exits, Barcelona simply have to advance to the knockout stages. Winning La Liga ensures that the Catalans are in Pot 1 for the draw and so avoid any other European champion. However, Xavi could still come up against one of Manchester United, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Porto or Arsenal.
- 19-20/09/2023 - Barcelona vs TBC
Barcelona vs Celta Vigo - La Liga
Gabri Veiga was already a target for numerous European clubs before he single-handedly hauled Celta Vigo to safety on the final day of the La Liga season in June.
Two Veiga goals against the freshly crowned league champions were enough to earn Celta three precious points and secure the club's top-flight status for one more season. Veiga may have declared his love for Celta at the final whistle that day but few expected him to stick around after the summer.
Veiga started the first match of the season on Celta's bench but may not still be part of the club by the time they travel to Catalonia in September after the transfer window has closed.
- 23-24/09/2023 - Barcelona vs Celta Vigo
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This article was originally published on 90min as Barcelona's next six fixtures after La Liga opener against Getafe.
