Match Preview: Getafe v FC Barcelona

Following on from their Copa del Rey debut midweek against Villanovense, Barça return to league action on Saturday at 8.30pm CET with a visit to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to take on Getafe. The blaugranes have won their last two games in La Liga, at home to Rayo and Eibar, and will be looking for a third in a row against a Getafe side who have been impressive this season playing in front of their own fans.

Team news

Luis Enrique’s team trained for the final time on Friday before their trip to Madrid. The Barça boss received good news with both Andrés Iniesta and Sergi Roberto declared fully fit after recent injuries. Both were named in an 18 man squad that is still missing the injured Leo Messi and Rafinha. Also out are Douglas after the Brazilian broke a bone in his foot in the 0-0 draw against Villanovense and Javier Mascherano, the Argentine serving the first of a two-game ban for his dismissal in the 3-1 win over Eibar last weekend. The full squad is as follows: Ter Stegen, Bravo, Piqué, Dani Alves, Bartra, Jordi Alba, Adriano, Vermaelen, Mathieu, Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Gumbau, Munir, Sandro, Suárez and Neymar.

Getafe coach Fran Escribá will be without defender Vigaray after he was sent off in the 5-0 defeat last weekend at Sevilla. Also missing will be midfielder Álvaro Medrán due to injury and former Espanyol striker Álvaro Vázquez will have a late fitness test after having been troubled with a hamstring problem all week in training.

Coaches’ viewpoint

Luis Enrique appeared before the press ahead on Friday ahead of the trip. The Asturian was delighted with the return of Iniesta and Sergi Roberto and revealed that “if they are in the squad then they could start.”

Getafe manager Escribá also spoke to the media on Friday, admitting that Barça’s missing players did not make his team’s task any easier: “We have a chance to win if we play well although against Barça a draw is a great result, nevertheless, we will be ambitious tomorrow.”

Form guide

The blaugranes have won both league matches since the recent international break, the latest a 3-1 win over Eibar courtesy of a Luis Suárez hat-trick. Away from home, Luis Enrique’s side have lost their last two matches in the league (Celta, Sevilla) and will be keen to avoid a third successive defeat on the road, something that has not happened since 2002. Nevertheless, they are still level on points with leaders Real Madrid after picking up 21 points from their first nine games.

Getafe have won their last three home games in a row, defeating Málaga, Levante and Las Palmas without conceding a single goal. Fran Escribá’s team have lost just once at the Coliseum in the league this season and that came on the opening day of the campaign against Granada. Last weekend Getafe suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at Sevilla, a result that leaves them in 13th place in the table on 10 points.

History

Barça have only ever lost twice to Getafe in 22 league meetings in the top flight with both defeats coming in the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. The most recent reverse came in 2011/12 when Juan Valera’s goal gave the home side a 1-0 victory. Barça have won on five of their last seven visits in the league to Getafe, although last season they were held to a 0-0 draw.

Coverage

No matter where you are in the world we have you covered. And remember, you can enjoy live commentary in English on Radio Barça. The link will appear at fcbarcelona.com just before kick-off. Twitter users can follow @FCBarcelona for a live feed of all the action.