Barcelona will be looking to keep the pressure on Real Madrid when they travel to Getafe in La Liga at the weekend.
The reigning champions are level on points with the league leaders, but they face a side that have lost just once in their last four outings.
Getafe
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Getafe suffered their first defeat in four matches last time out, slipping to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Sevilla, which is their heaviest loss so far this season.
The result leaves the team sitting 13th in the Spanish top flight ahead of the visit of the Catalan side, four points clear of the relegation zone but just three points outside the European places.
Prior to last weekend's defeat, Getafe had been in impressive form, keeping three clean sheets in a row, while securing comfortable wins over Levante and Las Palmas, as well as sharing a goalless draw with Celta Vigo.
Fran Escriba's side have a total of four clean sheets in the league so far this season – only four sides have more – but they have struggled to keep goals out, conceding 13 times in their first nine fixtures.
This weekend's hosts have struggled to be consistent down the other end of the pitch as well, failing to score against their opponents four times so far this season, while seven of their 10 goals came from just two fixtures.
Getafe have produced their best football when on home soil this season, winning three of their four fixtures at Coliseum Alfonso Perez compared with just one win from five matches away from home.
Recent form: WLWDWL
Barcelona
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Last weekend's 3-1 win over Eibar has kept Barcelona level on points with league leaders Real Madrid coming into this match, while also leaving the team with three wins from their last four La Liga outings.
Luis Suarez marked the anniversary of his debut for the club with a hat-trick, but there was controversy as Javier Mascherano was sent off late on for dissent, which has resulted in a ban for the Argentina international. The midfielder has also been in the news because of his tax case in recent days.
The Spanish and European champions also began the defence of their Copa del Rey title this week, but were held to a goalless draw with third-tier side Villanovense.
Barcelona have struggled defensively so far this season, keeping clean sheets in just two of their league matches so far, while letting in 12 goals – four times as many as the league leaders.
The team's attacking has been as strong as ever though, with 20 goals from their nine matches, led by top-scorer Neymar, who has eight goals in La Liga so far, including four in the 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano earlier this month.
Luis Enrique's side have taken maximum points from their home matches so far, but have struggled away from Camp Nou, winning just two of their first four matches on the road.
Recent form: WLWLWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWD
Team News
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Mascherano begins a two-match suspension, having been sent off for verbally abusing an assistant referee in the win over Eibar. He will be back for next month's El Clasico though.
The visitors will also have to cope without Douglas for the next couple of months after the defender suffered a scaphoid fracture in his foot during Wednesday's Cope del Rey fixture, in what was his first start since injuring his hamstring in pre-season.
Sergi Roberto and Andres Iniesta remain doubts for the match with groin and hamstring injuries respectively, while Lionel Messi is still sidelined with a knee injury.
The home side will be without Carlos Vigaray after he was sent off last weekend, while Alexis is expected to be available, despite picking up a knock last time out.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Guaita, Ruano, Lago, Vergini, Cala, Lacen, Sarabia, Leon, Rodriguez, Wanderson, Scepovic
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Bravo, Pique, Alves, Bartra, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Gerard, Suarez, Neymar, Ramirez
Head To Head
When the sides last met in April, Barcelona secured a 6-0 win over this weekend's opponents, but they were held to a goalless draw on their last visit to Getafe's ground.
Since Getafe claimed a 1-0 win over Barcelona in 2011, the Catalan side have secured seven wins and two draws in nine meetings.
This will be the 27th meeting between the two sides, with Barcelona winning 18 of the previous 26 fixtures, while Getafe have won just three matches.
We say: Getafe 1-3 Barcelona
Having had a few more days to prepare for this match than their opponents, Getafe will see this fixture as a chance to break their winless run against Barcelona, but the form of Neymar and Suarez will make the visitors difficult to beat, even if the champions cannot keep a clean sheet.
Sian Cowper
