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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Mar 12, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
Getafe logo

6-0

Rodriguez (8' og.), El-Haddadi (19'), Neymar (32', 51'), Messi (40'), Turan (57')
FT(HT: 4-0)

Preview: Barcelona vs. Getafe

Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between league leaders Barcelona and struggling Getafe at Camp Nou.

Barcelona will attempt to make it 37 games unbeaten in all competitions when they welcome struggling Getafe to Camp Nou in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.

The Catalan giants will enter the match eight points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Getafe sit just above the relegation zone in 16th having lost seven of their last eight top-flight matches.


Barcelona

Lionel Messi celebrates with Neymar, Luis Suarez and Gerard 'ereccion' Pique during the La Liga game between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona on March 3, 2016© AFP

With Barcelona taking to the field before both Atletico and Real Madrid this weekend, it is another chance for Luis Enrique's side to open up an 11-point lead at the summit. It would be 11 from second-placed Atletico and an incredible 15 points clear of Clasico rivals Real Madrid, which is almost unthinkable at this stage of the season.

A lot has been made of Barcelona's record-breaking unbeaten run, which currently stands at 36 matches, but the Catalan side have also won their last 11 in the league. They only just managed to beat Las Palmas and Sevilla towards the end of last month, but have scored nine times in their last two league victories.

Last weekend's 4-0 win at Eibar saw Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar move onto 100 goals between them for the season and incredibly, only two teams in the top five European leagues - Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund - have scored more collectively. The numbers on display from that trio, who should all start in this match, are just unthinkable.

Barcelona have also won 18 of their last 21 home league games and scored at least once in all of them. It will come as no surprise to learn that they have the best home record in the league this season and also the best goal difference overall (+56). That said, it is the head-to-head record that stands in Spain.

In terms of what is to come, next week, Barcelona will welcome Arsenal to Camp Nou for the second leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg. Then it starts to get interesting in the league as they face Villarreal and Real Madrid in back-to-back matches.

The Catalan outfit have already won the Club World Cup this season, while they will face Sevilla in the final of the Copa del Rey in May. Success in La Liga is also almost tied up and it is difficult to imagine anyone stopping them in the Champions League. It would be fair to say that it is all going quite well for the Spanish giants this term.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW


Getafe

Getafe CF manager Fran Escriba looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between MK Dons and Getafe CF at Stadium mk on July 28, 2015© Getty Images

While Barcelona cannot stop winning, Getafe are dangerously sliding down the table. A run of eight league games without a win has seen the capital side drop to 16th and they are now just one point outside of the relegation zone. In fact, just three points now separate 19th-placed Sporting Gijon from Getafe - two spots outside the bottom three.

Not since January 17 have Getafe picked up all the points in La Liga and since then they have been beaten on seven occasions. They did pick up an impressive point at home to Sevilla last weekend, however, and have winnable matches against Eibar and Rayo Vallecano to come in their two after this one.

The capital side's record from 28 league games this season reads won seven, drawn six and lost 15. They have only found the back of the net on 27 occasions, meanwhile, which is among the poorest records in the league.

Getafe are actually currently in their 12th consecutive season in La Liga, having been present in the top flight ever since winning promotion during the 2003-04 season. They finished sixth in 2009-10, but have not managed a top-half finish since then and ended last season in 15th position.

The fact that Pablo Sarabia is their top league scorer this season on five goals is an indication of their troubles, while no striker has netted more than four that both Alvaro Vasquez and Stefan Scepovic have managed. Add their goal troubles to the fact that they have only won one of their last 17 away games in the league and all signs point to another Barcelona win this weekend.

Recent form: LLLLLD


Team News

Neymar (C) of FC Barcelona celebrates with his teammates Luis Suarez (L) and Lionel Messi of FC Barcelonaa after scoring his team's third goal of FC Barcelonaduring the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on November© Getty Images

Barcelona will have Neymar back from a one-match suspension this weekend and the Brazilian is expected to return to the front three alongside Suarez and Messi.

Andres Iniesta is also expected to return to the starting XI after sitting out the clash with Eibar last weekend, but Dani Alves and Jordi Alba could both be rested ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Arsenal.

As for Getafe, Damian Suarez and Roberto Lago remain on the sidelines, which could once again mean starts for attackers Karim Yoda and Emiliano Buendia in the full-back positions.

Pedro Leon is also pushing for a return in an attacking area, but Moi Gomez and Bernard Mensah are expected to continue on the bench.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Vidal, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Getafe possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Yoda, Cala, Velazquez, Buendia; Lacen, Juan; Victor, Leon, Sarabia; Vasquez


Head To Head

Barcelona have won eight and drawn three of the 11 league meetings between the two teams at Camp Nou. What's more, Getafe have not scored in their last three with the Catalan outfit in Spain's top flight.

In terms of the more recent clashes, Barcelona recorded a thumping 6-0 victory at Camp Nou in the corresponding match last season and were also 2-0 winners in the capital earlier this term.

Overall, the pair have met on 27 occasions since the 2004-05 season and Getafe have only won three times - all of which came at home.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Barcelona 4-0 Getafe

It is very difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable Barcelona win this weekend. The Catalan side's unbeaten run is going to end at some point, but we do not think it will be this weekend. Getafe are on a rotten run of form and will surely be on the receiving end of another defeat at Camp Nou.



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Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Camp Nou on September 26, 2015
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Ravens
30-23
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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