Getafe vs Barcelona: TV channel info, Team News, Prediction, Betting odds
Defending champions Barcelona travel to Madrid to face Getafe in the 10th match week of La Liga on Saturday. The Blaugranes have 21 points so far, and they sit at the top of the table tied with Real Madrid. Real Madrid face lowly Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu, so the Catalonia-based club will look to get all three points in order to maintain pressure on Los Blancos. Getafe has 10 points from nine matches and occupy 13th place in the table.
The Catalans won both their last matches against Rayo Vallecano and Eibar, both played at the Camp Nou. On the other hand, Getafe were humbled 5-0 by Sevilla in their last match after they earned a 4-0 win over Las Palmas the previous week.
Kick Off & Telecast
Date and time: Sunday, 1 November 2015 (1:00 AM IST)
Telecast: Sony KIX
Venue: Coliseum Alfonso Pérez
Team News
Barcelona have been hit by injuries and suspensions, with Lionel Messi and Rafinha out with long term injuries. Mascherano will serve the first of his two-match ban for insulting the referee while Douglas added to the injury woes of Luis Enrique when the Brazilian injured his foot in the Copa del Ray tie against Villanovense. However, Andres Iniesta and Sergi Roberto have been deemed fit to play.
Meanwhile, Getafe themselves have a number of injury and suspension concerns of their own. Carlos Vigaray was sent off in the side’s 5-0 loss to Sevilla, so he is suspended for the match. Getafe coach Fran Escriba is also without midfielder Álvaro Medrán and striker Álvaro Vázquez.
Form
Barcelona
After Messi’s injury, it looked like the Catalan club might not be able to fill the void. The club suffered a 2-1 loss away to Sevilla immediately after the Argentine maestro was ousted. Since then, the South American duo of Luis Suarez and Neymar have taken up the goal scoring burden. Neymar scored four goals against helpless Rayo Vallecano in a 5-2 win and then Suarez scored a hat-trick against Eibar to show that they can carry the team even without Messi.
Even though these two have taken the attacking burden, their defensive stability is still far from being ideal. The same defence which looked impeccable last season has been susceptible to counter-attacks this term. For Luis Enrique to gain the three points and maintain the pressure on Real Madrid, the defence must be solid in this match.
Last 5 games: L-W-L-W-W (Last match: Barcelona 3-1 Eibar)
Getafe
The Azulones have had a hot-and-cold season so far. They were humiliated in their last match 5-0, but in their last home match, they thrashed the newly-promoted Las Palmas 4-0. The Madrid-based club finished 15th last season and, if they want to finish as high as possible, at least a point against Barcelona will be very helpful in the long run.
Last 5 games: LWDLD (Most recent: Sevilla 5-0 Getafe)
Probable Line-ups
Barcelona (4-3-3): Bravo; Alves, Pique, Bartra, Alba; Rakitic, Iniesta, Busquets; Sandro, Suarez, Neymar
Getafe (4-2-3-1): Guaita; Cala, Vergini, Alexis, Lago; J. Rodriguez, Meira; Leon, Sarabia, V. Rodriguez; Scepovic
Key Stats
- Getafe have won only twice against Barcelona in 22 meetings thus far in the La Liga. Both of those matches took place in Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
- Barcelona has won five of their last seven visits in the league to Getafe.
- The last match between the clubs took place in April, which The Blaugrana won 6-0. Messi and Suarez scored two goals each in the match, whereas Xavi and Neymar scored one apiece.
Prediction
Barcelona forwards Neymar and Suarez are in great form ahead of the tie and are expected to keep up the intensity of their performances. The Blaugrana defence might prove to be too stern a test for the Madrid-based club, so Barcelona should walk away with the three points.
Predicted score: Getafe 1-4 Barcelona
Betting Odds (bet365)
Getafe – 10/1
Draw – 19/4
Barcelona – 2/7