Getafe vs Barcelona preview

December 12, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Getafe vs BarcelonaStruggling Getafe go into the Barcelona game on the back of a four-match winless run and they clearly face a very difficult task against the Catalans.

Luis Enrique’s side have won last eight matches in all competitions with relative ease and they will fancy their chances of winning at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Getafe have been far from impressive in the opening exchanges, but the team, nonetheless, did well to stay above the danger zone.

While they were unable to match Spain’s top sides, losing to Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico, Bilbao and Villarreal, los Azulones did much better against bottom-table teams.

Getafe recorded four wins in total to create a five-point cushion between them and the bottom three and they hope to avoid the relegation tussle altogether.

Los Azulones ended a two-match losing run by defeating Eibar in Copa del Rey before holding Levante to a 1-1 draw, but they certainly cannot be expected to make life difficult for in-form Barcelona.

Coach Cosmin Contra faces some selection problems seeing as how left-backs Roberto Lago and Sergio Escudero are both carrying injuries.

It looks as though one of Alexis or Alvaro Arroyo will have to deputize on the left flank, while Pablo Sarabia and Baba Diawara are back in contention.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Guaita – Valera, Naldo, Velazquez, Alexis – Michel, Lacen – Sarabia, Sammir, Hinestroza – Lafita.

Barcelona may not have had the best of starts following major changes during close season, but things seems to have fallen into place.

With Luis Suarez returning and summer arrivals adapting to the new surroundings, the Catalans have seriously raised their form over the last few weeks and they are again a genuine force to be reckoned with.

Barcelona managed to win the first place in their Champions League group thanks to the 3-1 triumph over PSG, with Laurent Blanc admitting he had been taken aback by Luis Enrique’s 3-5-1-1 formation.

It remains to be seen whether the boss will revert to a four-man defence, and with Daniel Alves returning from suspension, that looks likely.

It is important to note that the Catalans have now won eight successive matches and they are 1.25 (1/4) to make it nine on the bounce.

Luis Suarez has finally scored his second goal for the club and he is now available at 1.95 (19/20) to register his first ever La Liga goal.

Claudio Bravo, Jordi Alba and Xavi should be recalled to the side, with Thomas Vermaelen the only player on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Bravo – Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Xavi – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.

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