MX23RW : Tuesday, January 14 16:05:40| >> :60:764:764:

Preview: Getafe vs. Barcelona

Sports Mole previews Barcelona's trip to face out-of-form Getafe in La Liga this weekend.

Barcelona will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Real Madrid this weekend as the La Liga title race continues to heat up.

It was only a month ago when manager Luis Enrique's position at the club came under real pressure following back-to-back defeats against Madrid and former club Celta Vigo. Since then, however, the Catalan giants have won their last eight matches to remain in contention on all fronts.

Last night's 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League ensured that top spot was secured in Group F, thus setting up a meeting with one of the competition's second-placed sides in the last 16, while things are also looking smooth domestically, too.

The omens are good for second-placed Barca heading into Saturday's visit to the Spanish capital, where they take on a Getafe side with just two wins from the last 20 meetings in this fixture.

Cosmin Contra's charges are firmly sat in mid-table at the moment, although if the Azulones can find their shooting boots a push up the table could be on the cards.

Only one side - Granada - have found the net on fewer occasions than Getafe this term, and that task will not be any easier against a Barcelona side boasting the division's best defensive record.

That said, having kept eight successive clean sheets at the start of the season, Enrique's men have managed just one shutout in their last eight in the top flight.

The good news for Barcelona is that their South American forward trio are fit and firing, with Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi each finding the net against PSG. In fact, Messi has returned to something close to his best form, scoring three hat-tricks in his last five outings for the club.

Elsewhere, Claudio Bravo and Jordi Alba are likely to return to the starting lineup, while the visitors, who have won just once in their last six league outings, are expected to start with Angel Lafita in attack.

Getafe:

Form in La Liga: LWDLLD
Form in all competitions: WDLLWD

Possible starting lineup: Guaita, Valera, Naldo, Velaquez, Escudero, Rodriguez, Lacen, Yoda, Michel, Hinestroza, Lafita

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: LLWWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Rakitic, Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Sports Mole says: 0-3


ID:193078: cacheID:193078:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4753:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Luis Enrique Martinez faces the media during his official presentation as the new coach of FC Barcelona at Camp Nou on May 21, 2014
Read Next:
Enrique: 'Job done for Barcelona'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Vikings
9-27
Rams
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico19135134122244
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona198472725228
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196762123-225
11Osasuna196762328-525
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Getafe194781316-319
16Leganes194781829-1119
17AlavesAlaves1945102131-1017
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Real ValladolidValladolid1943121337-2415
20Valencia1927101829-1113


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!