Barcelona's players are currently on holiday, enjoying Christmas with their families. The majority of the squad will return to training on Dec. 30, while Messi, Luis Suárez, Arthur, Arturo Vidal, Malcom and Munir will be back on Jan. 2.
On the horizon is a trip to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on Jan. 6 to facew Getafe. It's a complicated game against an in-form side -- and even more so if you add in that Barça have not won their first game in a calendar year in four seasons.
The last time the Catalans won their first game of the year was in 2014, when they beat Elche in La Liga at Camp Nou. There was a hat-trick from Alexis Sanchez and a goal from Pedro. Since then, no wins to kick off the year.
The most recent precedent was last year, when Ernesto Valverde picked a mixed team in Vuigo. Pione Sisto scored for Celta Vigo and Jose Arnaiz, now at Leganes, netted for Barcelona, who won the secong leg 5-0.
Barça also opened 2017 with a cup game, this time at San Mames. They were caught out by the intensity of Athletic Club, who scored twice early on, though Aduriz and Williams. Messi pulled one back, though, and Barça won the second leg 3-1 to progress on aggregate.
The games between Barça and Espanyol led to wear and tear for both teams. They played in La Liga at Cornella-El Prat to kivk off the year. It was an intense, emotional, controversial game... it just lacked goals. It finished 0-0. The two teams met again four days later, this time in the Copa del Rey at Camp Nou. Barça won 4-1.
An own goal from Jordi Alba gave La Real a shock win at Anoeta and set off a chain of events which would see Barça steer from crisis to treble under Luis Enrique.