Barcelona Vs. Getafe: Watch Live Stream Online; Preview, Team News, Prediction
When and Where: The La Liga match from the Camp Nou kicks-off at 3 p.m. ET. A live stream will be available via ESPN3. The match will also be screened on ESPN Deportes.
Preview: Just a few short weeks ago Barcelona trailed Real Madrid by 10 points in La Liga and even boss Pep Guardiola conceded that the title was all but certain to be heading to their bitter rivals.
But, following Real's latest draw at home with Valencia at the weekend, that gap at the top is now just four points. And, with El Clasico coming up in less than two weeks, it is firmly game-on in the battle for the championship.
Yet, Guardiola remains extremely cautious about the club's prospects of winning an unlikely fourth successive La Liga.
It seems as though we already have it [the title], but the reality is that four points are a lot of points, Guardiola said, according to the Barcelona official website. There's a lot of work to do.
This league title is practically impossible, he added.
While many will focus on Real's stuttering form as being responsible for breathing fresh life into Spain's title race, Barcelona deserve enormous credit for winning nine league games on the bounce. Their latest victory came courtesy of a 4-1 score line over Real Zaragoza on Saturday that was made to look more comfortable with two goals in the final five minutes.
Getafe have been in decent form of late, losing just once and winning four times in their last six La Liga matches. Currently sitting in 10th place in the congested standings, Luis Garcia's men are only a point off a Europa League spot and so have plenty to play for in the season's climax.
Getafe are one of only two sides to have beaten the mighty Barcelona in La Liga this season, having won 1-0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Team News: Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta all sat on the bench during Barcelona's weekend victory, with all three likely to return on Tuesday. Their inclusion made all the more likely by the suspension of Cesc Fabregas.
Dani Alves, who was taken off against Zaragoza after straining a thigh muscle, trained with the Barcelona squad on Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be fit to play. Gerard Pique trained apart from his team mates and may not yet be ready for his comeback.
Getafe will be without defender Mane, who picked up his fifth caution of the season in Saturday's 2-0 home win over Sporting Gijon. Abdel Barrada could also feature after appearing as a substitute at the weekend.
Prediction: Having clawed away at Real Madrid's lead and got it back to a manageable margin, Barcelona will be desperate to avoid any slip-ups now, particularly before El Clasico later this month.
Guardiola has also been able to rotate his squad with their now being greater strength in depth, defense excluded, and that should stand Barcelona in good stead with the rush of games coming up at the end of the season.
This should be a fairly comfortable home win for Barcelona over the low-scoring Getafe.
Barcelona 3-0 Getafe
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