Hello all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues this afternoon as Getafe welcome Barcelona to the Spanish capital. Can Barca close the gap on Real Madrid? Right, before we get down to the details ahead of the match, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news.

TEAMS

GETAFE: Guaita; Valera, Naldo, Velazquez, Alexis; Sarabia, Lacen; Sammir, Michel, Yoda; Lafita

BARCA: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Xavi; Pedro, Suarez, Messi

So there we have it. Sammir returns to the Getafe XI this afternoon, while there are also starts for Angel Lafita and Karim Yoda in wide areas. However, Alvaro Vazquez and Juan Rodriguez have been named on the bench. It looks to be a 4-2-3-1 formation for the capital side.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are without Neymar, who has an ankle injury. As a result, Pedro moves into the front three alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, while Ivan Rakitic has come into the midfield. Jordi Alba and Dani Alves both return to the XI, but Andres Iniesta is only named on the bench.

Getafe have won only two of their previous 20 matches against Barcelona – losing 14 times in the process. In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, Barca have won four of the last five encounters. Last season, they won 2-0 in this stadium, but Getafe picked up a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou towards the end of the campaign. Can they secure another shock result in the capital this afternoon?

A total of 15 points from 14 games has left Getafe in 12th spot in the table. They have won four times in the league this season, drawing three and losing seven. Last time out in La Liga, they picked up a 1-1 draw at Levante, with that point ending a run of back-to-back defeats.

Barca, meanwhile, currently sit second in La Liga on 34 points. They entered week 15 just two points behind the leaders Real Madrid, but have fallen five off the pace following Los Blancos' thumping 4-1 win at Almeria on Friday. As a result, this is a must-win match for the Catalan outfit at this stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit the headlines for Real Madrid last weekend, but Lionel Messi matched his rival with a stunning hat-trick in Barca's 5-1 win over Espanyol. Luis Enrique's side fell behind at the Camp Nou, but responded with a stunning second-half performance to claim all the points.

Barca lost at home to Celta Vigo earlier in the season, but their form at the Camp Nou has been strong, with six wins from their seven matches, while they have scored 24 goals on their own patch and conceded just three. On the road, they have won five of their seven league games - losing once in the process and conceding just four times. They will also enter this match off the back of a 3-1 win over PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday – a result that secured top spot in Group F.

PREDICTION! I do not think this will be all plain sailing for Barcelona, but I am finding it difficult to predict anything other than an away win. I think that the first period will be tight, but expect the visitors to come through in the second period. My score prediction is 3-1 Barcelona.

The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Let's hope for a cracker in the Spanish capital. The away side get the first 45 minutes underway here.

Not a full house inside the stadium this afternoon - far from it, but there is a decent atmosphere. As expected, it has not taken long for the away side to gain control of the possession, while Michel has already been penalised for a late challenge on Xavi. This could be a lively one for the referee!

Barcelona have Getafe pinned to the edge of their own box at the moment, with Alba and Alves playing like wingers in the early stages. The home side have had one chance to counter, but Lafita could not run away from Pique after attempting to collect a through pass from the Frenchman Yoda.

Yoda has been bright for the home side in the opening six minutes, but Barcelona have crowded the midfield each time the Frenchman has threatened to break. Lafita is again the target in the final third, but Bravo comes to collect a through pass from Michel. Decent start from the hosts here.

Barca have a free kick in a dangerous position as Michel brings Suarez to the ground...

... the resulting set piece is delivered by Xavi, but Naldo is on hand to head clear. Getafe threaten to break with Yoda once again, but Busquets is across on the cover to sweep up and find Xavi.

Getafe enjoy a spell of possession inside the Barcelona half, with Lafita, Yoda and Sammir all involved. The former attempts to slide a pass towards Yoda, who has been very busy in the opening 10 minutes. Barcelona have been a little untidy thus far, with their passing not on point in the final third.

Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, with both sides guilty of losing possession in the final third of the field. Barca force the issue down the left as Alba beats two defenders before delivering towards the near post, but Alexis clears the danger ahead of Messi.

Half-chance for Suarez as the Barca forward finds some space outside the box, but his effort was always moving high and wide of the crossbar. That has been the story of the match thus far.

Barca suddenly burst into life in the final third as Messi takes the ball away from Lacen before feeding Suarez, but the striker cannot move away from the challenge of Naldo. The away side are starting to look dangerous, but have still not created a clear chance in the opening 17 minutes here.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Messi to open the scoring as the Argentine collects a deflected Rakitic effort inside the box, but his low strike is straight into the body of Guaita.

CHANCE! Getafe are living dangerously here as Suarez collects a loose punch from Guaita, but the striker's effort curls just wide of the post. Two golden chances for Barca here.

CHANCE! It is a golden chance on the counter for Getafe as Barca lose possession just inside their own half, but Lafita takes the ball too wide and sees his low cross cleared at the vital moment. The home side really need to make use of those sort of moments in this match.

Both sides have had penalty appeals turned down in the last couple of minutes, with Juan Valera seemingly handling inside his own box, while replays have shown that the ball hit Alves's hand during that Lafita counter down the other end. The referee is busy at the moment that is for certain!

Getafe have just started to edge their way back into this match, with Lafita threatening in wide areas. Barcelona have had plenty of the ball, but have been a little untidy in the opening 26 minutes.

Half-chance for Xavi this time, but his long-range effort clears the crossbar.

Getafe have been frustrated by the offside flag in the last couple of minutes, with Sarabia and Lafita both flagged in the final third. Barca have also been caught out, however, with Alba the latest in an offside position. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and the score is still 0-0.

You just get the feeling that Getafe need to keep Barca out in this first period. It would be a big blow to concede in the final stages of the half. That said, it does not look too likely at the moment.

SAVE! Oh my word what a save from Bravo! Getafe come close to taking the lead as Lafita dances into the box before sweeping one towards the top corner, but Bravo is on hand to make a quite stunning save. That is wonderful work from the Barca goalkeeper!

There is no getting away from the fact that Barca have again been disappointing this afternoon. That said, they struggled in the first half against Espanyol last week and still ran out 5-1 winners.

The referee has been called into action on a number of occasions in the last couple of minutes, with both sides guilty of making a host of late challenges. It is all a little untidy at the moment.

Half-chance for Barcelona as Suarez delivers a dangerous cross towards the near post, but Messi cannot make contact and the danger is cleared. Still no bookings in this match, but we must be getting close as Lafita is the latest to be pulled up for a challenge. Still goalless in the Spanish capital.

Suarez is again the creator for the away side as the forward drives down the right before finding Xavi with a cross, but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper. Moments later, Rakitic has possession outside the box, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post. Good spell for the away side.

Good pressure from Barcelona in the latter stages of the first period...

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two sides level at 0-0. In truth, it has not been the best half of football. Barcelona have dominated the possession, but Getafe had the best chance through Lafita, who brought a wonderful save from Bravo in the Barca goal.

STATS! Barca have dominated the possession with 76%, while they have had nine attempts - just one of which was on target. Getafe, meanwhile, have hit the target with just one of their two attempts. There has surprisingly not been a single booking thus far despite some late challenges.

BENCH WATCH! The home side have number of attacking options on their bench this afternoon, with the likes of Castro, Diawara, Leon and Vazquez all in reserve. Barcelona, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Munir, Iniesta and Rafinha, who has returned from an illness.

Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second 45 minutes. Can Barca close the gap on Real Madrid to just two points? Getafe get the second period of action underway.

No changes from either manager at the break, which is not much of a surprise at this stage of proceedings. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains level for the next 20 minutes or so.

It has been a decent start to the second period from Barca, with Xavi delivering a dangerous cross towards Suarez, but Guaita is on hand to claim. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be crucial in this type of match. Getafe remain a threat on the break.

Half-chance for Getafe as Lafita breaks into the Barca half before striking one from outside the box, but it was always comfortable for Bravo, who has been a busy goalkeeper this afternoon.

Barca have a free kick just outside the box as Michel brings Messi to the ground. Chance here...

... CROSSBAR! Messi likes hitting the crossbar from free kicks doesn't he! Again the Argentine rattles the woodwork with a curling effort from just outside the box.

It is all Barcelona at the moment as the visitors continue to force the issue in the final third, with Suarez having an attempt blocked inside the box. Getafe cannot seem to get out of their own half at the moment, but they have a serious threat on the counter with the pace of Lafita and Yoda.

Barca again have a half-chance as Suarez finds space outside the box, but his effort was always rising high of the crossbar. We are getting to the stage of the match where both managers will be considering changes. As it stands, Barca are four points behind the league leaders Real Madrid.

SAVE! Barca again come close to taking the lead with a Messi free kick, but Guaita is down to make the save. The Getafe stopper has been very busy since the restart in the capital.

Still no movement on either bench, with the scores still goalless after an hour of action.

Possession football from Barca as they continue to pass and probe outside the Getafe box, but they are finding it difficult to really break through. The home side need to be careful as they continue to drop deeper and deeper - there is still a lot of football to be played in this match in Madrid.

SUB! Getafe make their first change as Vazquez replaces Sammir.

CHANCE! The pressure continues from Barca as Xavi meets a cross from Alba, but the Spaniard's effort just moved high of the crossbar. Getafe survive, just about anyway.

BOOKING! Lafita (Getafe) goes into the book for a late challenge on Messi.

SUB! Barca make their first change as Iniesta replaces Rakitic.

End-to-end football in the last couple of minutes, with both sides committing numbers in the final third. I would be surprised if this match ended goalless as the counter-attacks continue to flow. Barcelona simply cannot afford to drop points at this stage of the season that is for certain.

Another half-chance for Messi as Alba finds the head of the Argentine, but his effort is high of the crossbar. Getafe are preparing to make their second change of the match, with Lafita departing.

SUB! The change is made as Castro replaces Lafita.

The chances continue to flow for Barca as Pedro delivers a dangerous cross towards the far post, but Suarez cannot make contact ahead of Valera, who clears the danger. Little over 15 minutes of football remaining and still the score remains goalless. Can Getafe hold out in the latter stages here?

The referee has been called into action on a number of occasions in the last couple of minutes, with both sides guilty of making late challenges. Alba has possession down the left for Barca once again, but his cross is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper. Time is just starting to run out for Barca.

SUB! Pedro Leon replaces Yoda in the third change for Getafe.

Barca just cannot keep the ball in the final third at the moment, with attack after attack breaking down. The visitors are preparing to make their third change with little over 10 minutes of football to play.

SUB! Barca make their second change as Munir replaces Pedro.

8 - Lionel Messi has hit the woodwork eight times in La Liga this season, at least four more than any other player (Benzema, 4). Carpentry. — OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 13, 2014

SUB! Barca make their third change as Adriano replaces Alves.

Not too much to report in terms of clear chances in the last couple of minutes, but the pressure is still on from Barca, who are threatening in wide positions. Iniesta has an effort from outside the box, but his strike is blocked before Getafe break down the other end. The score remains goalless here.

The rain is really falling in the capital at the moment, but that is not stopping Barca's domination. Suarez is involved in their latest attack, but the striker's effort is deflected high into the air.

The home side manage to ease some of the pressure with a corner from the right, but the set piece from Leon is gathered by Bravo. Little under five minutes of normal time remaining in Madrid.

It is all Barcelona as they continue to pepper the Getafe box with crosses, but the home side have been brilliant in the air all afternoon. The home supporters are in fine voice, but there is still time for Barcelona to put on a late show and claim all the points. Stoppage time will soon be announced!

Diego Castro has the chance to threaten inside the Barca box, but the forward cannot evade the challenge of Pique and the danger is cleared. We are into the first of four added minutes here.

Half-chance for Pique this time as the centre-back meets a cross from Alba, but his header was always dropping into the arms of the goalkeeper. Can Getafe hold on?

Free kick Barca in a wide position as Castro fells Messi...

... the set piece is delivered by Xavi, but the excellent Lacen is on hand to head clear.

Controversy here as the referee blows the final whistle while Getafe were on the attack. The home players are not best pleased here! The match is over, however, and Getafe have secured a 0-0 draw. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!