Barcelona will attempt to make it 37 games unbeaten in all competitions when they welcome struggling Getafe to Camp Nou in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
The Catalan giants will enter the match eight points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Getafe sit just above the relegation zone in 16th having lost seven of their last eight top-flight matches.
Barcelona
© AFP
With Barcelona taking to the field before both Atletico and Real Madrid this weekend, it is another chance for Luis Enrique's side to open up an 11-point lead at the summit. It would be 11 from second-placed Atletico and an incredible 15 points clear of Clasico rivals Real Madrid, which is almost unthinkable at this stage of the season.
A lot has been made of Barcelona's record-breaking unbeaten run, which currently stands at 36 matches, but the Catalan side have also won their last 11 in the league. They only just managed to beat Las Palmas and Sevilla towards the end of last month, but have scored nine times in their last two league victories.
Last weekend's 4-0 win at Eibar saw Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar move onto 100 goals between them for the season and incredibly, only two teams in the top five European leagues - Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund - have scored more collectively. The numbers on display from that trio, who should all start in this match, are just unthinkable.
Barcelona have also won 18 of their last 21 home league games and scored at least once in all of them. It will come as no surprise to learn that they have the best home record in the league this season and also the best goal difference overall (+56). That said, it is the head-to-head record that stands in Spain.
In terms of what is to come, next week, Barcelona will welcome Arsenal to Camp Nou for the second leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg. Then it starts to get interesting in the league as they face Villarreal and Real Madrid in back-to-back matches.
The Catalan outfit have already won the Club World Cup this season, while they will face Sevilla in the final of the Copa del Rey in May. Success in La Liga is also almost tied up and it is difficult to imagine anyone stopping them in the Champions League. It would be fair to say that it is all going quite well for the Spanish giants this term.
Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Getafe
© Getty Images
While Barcelona cannot stop winning, Getafe are dangerously sliding down the table. A run of eight league games without a win has seen the capital side drop to 16th and they are now just one point outside of the relegation zone. In fact, just three points now separate 19th-placed Sporting Gijon from Getafe - two spots outside the bottom three.
Not since January 17 have Getafe picked up all the points in La Liga and since then they have been beaten on seven occasions. They did pick up an impressive point at home to Sevilla last weekend, however, and have winnable matches against Eibar and Rayo Vallecano to come in their two after this one.
The capital side's record from 28 league games this season reads won seven, drawn six and lost 15. They have only found the back of the net on 27 occasions, meanwhile, which is among the poorest records in the league.
Getafe are actually currently in their 12th consecutive season in La Liga, having been present in the top flight ever since winning promotion during the 2003-04 season. They finished sixth in 2009-10, but have not managed a top-half finish since then and ended last season in 15th position.
The fact that Pablo Sarabia is their top league scorer this season on five goals is an indication of their troubles, while no striker has netted more than four that both Alvaro Vasquez and Stefan Scepovic have managed. Add their goal troubles to the fact that they have only won one of their last 17 away games in the league and all signs point to another Barcelona win this weekend.
Recent form: LLLLLD
Team News
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Barcelona will have Neymar back from a one-match suspension this weekend and the Brazilian is expected to return to the front three alongside Suarez and Messi.
Andres Iniesta is also expected to return to the starting XI after sitting out the clash with Eibar last weekend, but Dani Alves and Jordi Alba could both be rested ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Arsenal.
As for Getafe, Damian Suarez and Roberto Lago remain on the sidelines, which could once again mean starts for attackers Karim Yoda and Emiliano Buendia in the full-back positions.
Pedro Leon is also pushing for a return in an attacking area, but Moi Gomez and Bernard Mensah are expected to continue on the bench.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Vidal, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Yoda, Cala, Velazquez, Buendia; Lacen, Juan; Victor, Leon, Sarabia; Vasquez
Head To Head
Barcelona have won eight and drawn three of the 11 league meetings between the two teams at Camp Nou. What's more, Getafe have not scored in their last three with the Catalan outfit in Spain's top flight.
In terms of the more recent clashes, Barcelona recorded a thumping 6-0 victory at Camp Nou in the corresponding match last season and were also 2-0 winners in the capital earlier this term.
Overall, the pair have met on 27 occasions since the 2004-05 season and Getafe have only won three times - all of which came at home.
We say: Barcelona 4-0 Getafe
It is very difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable Barcelona win this weekend. The Catalan side's unbeaten run is going to end at some point, but we do not think it will be this weekend. Getafe are on a rotten run of form and will surely be on the receiving end of another defeat at Camp Nou.
Matt Law
