Getafe vs. Barcelona: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Despite having already lost two games in this La Liga season, the Catalans are still joint top of the table alongside Real Madrid at start of play.
For a team that is supposedly struggling under the weight of feeble squad depth and a different injury each week, this make-do-and-mend Barca are more than holding their own.
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They'll likely face swathes of empty terraces at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Getafe are one of the worst supported teams in the league, and when Barca come to town, standard practice would dictate that ticket prices rise considerably.
Indeed, J. A. De La Rosa of AS notes:
"The cheapest match ticket for the week 10 fixture between Getafe and Barcelona will cost double the traditional price of a match-day ticket to watch Getafe at home.
This price increase practice has become synonymous with many clubs and Getafe always set higher prices match-day when the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid visit the Coliseum.
For the visit of Luis Enrique’s side, tickets are available from 60 to 100 euro whilst the traditionally most expensive central stand tickets are priced at 70 euro for a standard La Liga home game for Geta.
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Commercial concerns ensure that the club need to take advantage when the "big boys" arrive; however, it would surely be more beneficial to the club and playing staff to have a full-to-bursting stadium when Getafe do battle against the likes of Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Just one loss for the Catalans in the last six does speak of a club in form even if this isn't vintage Barca.
Getafe, on the other hand, have had a mixed bag of results over the same time frame. The three games won in the period have been against sides in the bottom five, and they've failed to score on four of those six occasions.
Fran Escriba therefore has his work cut out to author an unexpected win but will remind his staff that Barca struggled to a 0-0 draw here last season.
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT/3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Madrid, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 2 HD (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only)/beIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)
Form Lines
Predicted Formations
Getafe are likely to begin with a 4-2-3-1 and do their best to attack Barca in the opening exchanges. If the visitors manage to get on top early on, then Fran Escriba may revert to a 4-5-1 for damage limitation.
Vicente Guaita needs a confidence boost after his howler cost his team a goal against Sevilla, and Luis Enrique will surely be keen for his front line to test the custodian as often as possible.
Santiago Vergini and Alexis will be charged with trying to ensure that Luis Suarez doesn't penetrate the danger areas centrally whilst Roberto Lago and Damian Suarez, in for the suspended Vigaray, will need to contain the forays of Neymar and Munir El Haddadi, respectively.
Mehdi Lacen continues to impress in the middle of the park alongside Juan Rodriguez, and both will need to be aware of the late runs of either Ivan Rakitic or the returning Andres Iniesta.
El Ilusionista gives the Catalans something extra but hasn't really been missed so badly on this occasion thanks to the excellent work of Sergi Roberto.
The youngster has certainly made 2015/16 his breakout season but will feel mightily aggrieved at missing out on the starting lineup.
Such a glorious run of recent form will surely see him play some part in proceedings, and Luis Enrique at least has the comfort of knowing that Roberto can fill in on the right side now should he require options there too.
Sergio Busquets hasn't been at his best this season but will need to be on his game against the probing Pablo Sarabia.
The latter, along with Pedro Leon and Victor Rodriguez, provide an acceptable support act for Stefan Scepovic.
Frankly, the four of them need to step it up considerably in this match if they have any designs on breaching Barca's defence and adding to Claudio Bravo's lack of clean sheets this term.
Gerard Pique will most likely be partnered with Jeremy Mathieu in the absence of Javier Mascherano, with Jordi Alba and Dani Alves completing Barca's 4-3-3.
Player to Watch
In truth, no one has really covered themselves in glory for Getafe this season.
Both ends of the pitch require vast improvement if the smaller of the Madrid-based teams want to continue their tenure in the top flight next season.
The best of a bad bunch is Pedro Leon.
The 28-year-old at least tries to keep the ball down and play football but is far too frequently let down by his team-mates.
Despite a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Sevilla last time out, and being substituted before the hour mark, Leon had done his best to keep the visitors moving.
At no time did he allow his head to drop or go missing, which is perhaps a lesson that his colleagues would do well to follow.
If the hosts are going to get any joy from this match, then the likelihood is that Leon will be involved somewhere along the line.
Whether it be an immaculate through ball for his attackers to finish off or a shot at glory himself, if Getafe can get Leon on the ball and orchestrating, there's a glimmer of hope for an immediate change of fortune.
Key Battle
It wasn't too long ago that Santiago Vergini was on the verge of joining Barca.
Jen Evelyn of Inside Spanish Football noted back in 2013 that Tata Martino was considering bringing with him a player who had performed well under his tutelage at Newell's Old Boys.
In the event, Vergini never made the move, and via a sojourn to the Premier League, the Argentinian now finds himself up against the Catalans just two years after his move there was mooted.
He'll have his work cut out against a deadly Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan has been at the races from the very first whistle of pre-season and is getting better and better with each passing game.
His finishing against Eibar was a sign of a player at the very top of his game, and he'll be aiming to hone his craft further here.
Because of a significant height advantage, Vergini will most likely win the high balls into the box, but he has to be demonstrably better on the floor than he has shown already in this campaign.
Odds
Getafe win 91/10
Barcelona win 100/357
Draw 429/100
Pre-match odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
