Barcelona will again have the chance to stretch their lead at the top of La Liga to five points when they welcome capital side Getafe to the Camp Nou on Tuesday.
As it stands, they lead second-placed Real Madrid by two points, but with Los Blancos not in action until Wednesday, it is another opportunity to move a step closer to the title.
Barcelona
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It has been some 2015 for the Catalan outfit and with May fast approaching, Luis Enrique's side are very much on for a famous treble.
Since the turn of the year, Barcelona have won 24 of their 27 games in all competitions, including 14 of their 17 league fixtures, which has seen them take charge of the title race. With just five games remaining, they lead second-placed Real Madrid by two points.
They booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League last week, before recording a 2-0 victory at Espanyol on Saturday afternoon. Enrique's side have a two-legged European clash with Bayern Munich next month, but their next two league games after this one are away to basement side Cordoba and at home to Real Sociedad, who are poor on their travels.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have both Sevilla and Valencia to come in the next few weeks, which places Barcelona in an even stronger position than the table suggests. The Catalan outfit have lost twice at home in the league this season, but have won 14 of their 16 matches – scoring 54 times in the process and conceding just nine. They have scored eight fewer goals than Real Madrid, but Barcelona do have the best defensive record in the entire league with just 19 conceded.
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez have also all found their form in recent weeks, with the trio fast approaching 100 goals between them for the season. Barca have had tough tests against Sevilla and Valencia in recent weeks, but came through those two games unbeaten and look on course to wrestle the league title back from Atletico Madrid, who have not launched another challenge and are currently nine points off the pace.
On paper, Barcelona would expect to comfortably win four of their remaining five league games, with their trip to Atletico Madrid on May 16 the only fixture that should pose problems. If Real Madrid win all of their remaining games and Barca were to draw at Atletico, then Real Madrid would win the title due to their superior head-to-head record. It could be done and dusted before the trip to the Vicente Calderon, but Enrique will not be taking any chances on Tuesday evening.
Recent form: WWWDWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWWWW
Getafe
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While not mathematically safe from the drop, Getafe currently sit seven points outside of the relegation zone in 13th and will feel that another win would be enough to secure their La Liga status for another season. In the 2013-14 campaign, they finished in 14th position on 42 points and the powers-that-be will be keen to see an improvement this time around.
It has been a mixed campaign, with 10 wins, six draws and 17 defeats from their 33 league games. They have only scored 28 times, which is among the lowest in the division, but they have only conceded 46 times, which is far from the worst record in the league.
They are currently on their third manager of the season, meanwhile, with Pablo Franco replacing Quique Flores at the helm after the Spaniard spent less than two months in charge. Getafe won back-to-back league games against Deportivo La Coruna and Elche towards the start of April, but they have since gone three games without a win – suffering two defeats in the process.
Two of those games have been against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao, but they were disappointingly beaten 1-0 at home by Levante on Saturday - a result that did not go down well with the supporters. They are still to face Real Madrid, but also have winnable games against Granada and Eibar.
Six of Getafe's 10 league wins this season have come on their own patch, but they have also lost seven times in front of their own supporters. It has been a struggle on the road, meanwhile, with the capital club suffering 10 defeats from their 16 games. They are currently 11 points from the top seven and therefore have no realistic ambitions of making a late push for European football.
In truth, Getafe are currently operating at the level that is expected. They have been forced to live in the shadow of their more famous neighbours, but they are currently in their 11th straight season in Spain's top flight and look on course to enjoy a 12th in the new campaign.
Recent form: LWWDLL
Team News
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Having not made a single first-team appearance since joining from Arsenal last summer, Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen has been cleared to make his debut for Barcelona. The defender could make the bench, but it is unlikely that he will be thrown straight into action.
There will be a spot open at left-back, however, with Jordi Alba suspended after picking up a red card in the second period of Saturday's win at Espanyol. As a result, Jeremy Mathieu is expected to start, while Marc Bartra could also be given a role in the middle of the defence.
Sergi Roberto and Xavi could also be involved further forward as Enrique prepares to shuffle his pack, but it is unlikely that the front three will be disturbed, despite the presence of Pedro.
Getafe, meanwhile, will definitely be without Angel Lafita, Karim Yoda and Juan Valera through injury, while their leading scorer, Alvaro Vasquez, is out for the season following shoulder surgery. Franco, however, has both Alexis and Emiliano Velazquez back from suspension.
Pedro Leon is also expected to keep his place in midfield, but Fredy Hinestroza will hope to start after appearing from the bench against Levante last time out.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Alves, Pique, Bartra, Mathieu; Xavi, Mascherano, Rakitic; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Alexis, Velazquez, Naldo, Vigaray; Lacen, Rodriguez, Castro; Leon, Diawara, Fredy
Head To Head
In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, Barcelona have won three of the last five games, but the last two league fixtures have both been draws.
In the corresponding game last season, Lafita scored twice – including one in stoppage time – to secure a 2-2 draw, which all but ended Barcelona's title challenge in the process.
The two teams have also, of course, already met in the league this season and Getafe held the Catalan outfit to a 0-0 draw. At that stage of the season, Barcelona were four points behind the then league leaders Real Madrid.
We say: Barcelona 3-0 Getafe
Getafe will take heart from their last two performances against Barcelona, but it is really difficult to back them to upset the Catalan outfit for a third successive match. The league leaders are in such fine form at the moment and will expect to stretch their lead to five points.
Getafe have talent in the final third and could cause some problems, but it would be a major surprise if Barcelona were not comfortable winners in front of their own supporters.
Matt Law
