Barcelona will be aiming to make it six straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Getafe to Camp Nou on Sunday night.
The Catalan outfit are currently top of the table, three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, while Getafe occupy 15th, one point clear of the relegation zone heading into the next set of matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
Barcelona have not actually been in La Liga action since their 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on January 8, which saw them move three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table.
The Catalan outfit have won three matches since then, though, overcoming Real Betis and Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup, before recording a 5-0 victory over Ceuta in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
Xavi's side will now switch their attention back to the league, finishing the month with matches against Getafe and Girona, and it is set to be a busy few weeks for the club, as they have the small matter of a two-legged Europa League knockout round playoff with Manchester United in February.
Barcelona have won 13, drawn two and lost one of their 16 league games this season, scoring 35 times - the second-highest behind Real Madrid (36) - while they have conceded just six, which is comfortably the best defensive record in the division.
There is still an awful lot of football to play this season, but it could end up being a very successful campaign for the club despite the huge disappointment of being knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League.
Barcelona recorded a 2-1 victory over Getafe in the corresponding game last season, but the points were shared in a goalless draw when they last met in May.
© Reuters
Getafe, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of three straight losses, including their last two in the league against Sevilla and Espanyol, with both games finishing 2-1.
Quique Sanchez Flores's side were also eliminated by Levante in the Copa del Rey at the start of January, although the league was always the priority for the team this term.
The Deep Blue Ones are in their sixth straight season at this level of football, finishing eighth, fifth and eighth between 2018 and 2020, but they have been 15th in their last two campaigns.
Getafe have picked up 17 points from their 17 league games this season to sit 15th in the table, just one point clear of 18th-placed Cadiz in a crowded bottom half of the table.
There are only four points between 12th-placed Valencia and Cadiz in 19th, which is an indication of how quickly things could change with a couple of poor results.
Getafe have picked up eight points from their eight away league matches this term, but they will be travelling to a Barcelona side with the best home record in Spain's top flight, boasting 20 points from eight matches.
Team News
© Reuters
Barcelona have no first-team injuries at this moment in time, but they will be missing both Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres through suspension this weekend.
Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo were both rested against Ceuta, but the duo will come back into the side here, while there will be a number of other changes from the Copa del Rey contest.
Ansu Fati could be given the nod through the middle due to the absence of Lewandowski, with Ousmane Dembele and Gavi playing in the positions either side of him.
It is expected to be the same back four that started against Atletico, with either Araujo or Jules Kounde featuring as the right-back for the home side.
As for Getafe, Mauro Arambarri remains an injury doubt, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape as they prepare to take on the league leaders.
Head coach Flores is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the home defeat to Espanyol last weekend.
As a result, it could be largely the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Diego Martinez's side, although Juan Iglesias could replace Damian Suarez as the right-sided wing-back.
Enes Unal is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with five, and the 25-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; F de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Dembele, Fati, Gavi
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Dakonam, Duarte, Alderete, Portu; Alena, Milla, Algobia; Mayoral, Unal
We say: Barcelona 2-0 Getafe
Barcelona are on a roll at the moment, and we are expecting their winning run to continue this weekend. Lewandowski's absence is a huge blow, but Xavi's side should have too much quality for Getafe, who have lost their last four league games at Camp Nou.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
