Barcelona look to extend their lead at the top of La Liga with a win over visitors, Getafe this weekend. A win would take the league leaders 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid and 15 points clear of fierce rivals Real Madrid before both sides square off in their respective games.
A win would also extend a 36 game unbeaten run that Luis Enrique’s men are on, as the Catalan side embarks on a record-breaking season. Getafe on the other hand, are looking to stop a run of poor run instead and will want to avoid an 8th loss in 9 top flight games, a run which has seen them move precariously close to the relegation slots with the team sitting 16th in the table.
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Kick-off and Live Telecast
Channel: Sony ESPN
Date and Time: 12 March 2016; 20.30 IST
Venue: Camp Nou
Live Stream: starsports.com
Team News
Barcelona
Neymar Jr returns from a one-match suspension for the Catalan side as the game could see a number of the usual first 11 get a rest ahead of their Champions League tie against Arsenal midweek. Javier Mascherano will serve a one-match suspension having accumulated 5 yellow cards.
Andres Iniesta is expected to return to the starting line-up having sat out the game vs. Eibar with fullbacks Dani Alves and Jordi Alba set to be rested.
Getafe
Getafe enter the game at the Camp Nou with no fresh injury concerns but are set to suffer the effects of a range suspensions come into effect. Alvaro Pereira returns from e a ban for the Madrid-based side. Alvaro Vazquez, Cala and Pablo Sarabia will all miss the game at Camp Nou after being suspended for 1 match.
Form
Barcelona
Barcelona are in the form of their lives. Unbeaten in 36 games and having won 11 straight games in La Liga, the Catalan outfit are looking to make it 12 out of the last 12. On the back of a 4-0 run out at Eibar, Barcelona will also look to come out of the game without any fatigue or injuries to any of their key players, so will hope to wrap things up quickly and substitute their best players off.
Having already broken the hundred goal barrier, the trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar will look to plunder an off form Getafe side. Barcelona have won 18 of their last 21 home games.
Last 5 Matches: W-W-W-W-W (Last Match: Eibar 0-4 Barcelona)
Getafe
Getafe have been in terrible form since the turn of the year and have little hope of bettering their result against Sevilla which was a hard fought 1-1 draw. Without key players and top scorer Sarabia much of the weight will fall on the young shoulders of Alvaro Medran if Getafe are to get something out of the game at all.
Having lost 7 of their last 8 games in La Liga, the Getafe unit has failed to pick up all three points since the middle of January. Precariously close to the relegation spots, the Madrid-based side will look to snatch something from the game.
Last 5 Matches: L-L-L-L-D ( Last match: Getafe 1-1 Sevilla)
Probable Lineups
Barcelona (4-3-3): Bravo; Vidal, Vermaelen, Pique Mathieu, Turan, Roberto, Iniesta, Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Getafe(4-3-3): Guaita; Emi, Vergini, Velazquez, Pereira, J.Rodriguez, Lacen, Medran, Yoda, V.Rodriguez, Scepovic
Key Stats:
- Lionel Messi has scored six times in the last six games that he has played against Getafe.
- Barcelona are unbeaten in 36 games across all competitions.
- Barcelona have not lost their last 11 league games at the Camp Nou versus Getafe.
- Barcelona have won their last 11 games in the La Liga.
- Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 21 games at home.
Key Battles:
Luis Suarez vs Emiliano Velazquez
On loan from Atletico Madrid, Emiliano Velazquez is going to be a gem of a player in the near future for both club and country. He has the skills to be a big player and could offer competition for the centre-back spots in the Atletico jersey in the coming years.
If there is ever a game to announce yourself as a player to be looked out for in the future, this has to be it. The young Uruguayan is up against arguably the best center forward on the planet right now and could be in for a tormenting night if Uruguayan fan favorite, Luis Suarez is on song.
While few have ever managed to keep the unrelenting Uruguayan forward tied down, Velazquez could prove to be key to Getafe’s chances of getting something out of the game.
Alvaro Medran vs Sergi Roberto
It may or may not be long before Alvaro Medran can take on the Barcelona team wearing the Real Madrid jersey but as is the case with Velazquez, this is the night for Medran to announce himself.
With tough talk from the on-loan Spaniard already filling the air as he claims that Getafe are confident of upsetting the Catalan juggernaut, Medran will be expected to walk the walk on the pitch. In the absence of Pablo Sarabia, the young midfielder will be expected to take the game to the Barcelona midfield as Getafe will look to snatch a result at the Camp Nou.
Medran has been favored to start of late and could find this to be the game that cements his starting place in this Getafe side. Sergi Roberto, however, could prove too strong an opponent in midfield and might just make it difficult for Medran to have any impact at all. Sergi has had a great season for Barca filling in whenever called upon. Ever efficient and reliable, Luis Enrique will ask him for another one of his better performances in front of the defense this time.
Prediction
Barcelona are simply too strong for a Getafe side who are struggling for the right results. Getafe pulled a good performance and result against Sevilla but the rigor of the Camp Nou and the genius of Messi, Suarez and Neymar may be too much for this Getafe side. The smart money will be on Barcelona running riot.
Barcelona 3-0 Getafe
