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Barcelona look to pile pressure on Atletico (Preview)

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IANS Barcelona

Leaders FC Barcelona have the chance to open up a 11-point gap at the top of La Liga when they entertain Getafe in the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday.

The game sees two very different runs of form come together as Barcelona go into the game on the back of a record breaking streak of 37 games without defeat, while Getafe travel to Barcelona following eight games without a win, reports Xinhua.

The form has seen Fran Escriba's side slide from a comfortable mid-table position to only just above the relegation zone and although they gained some confidence with a 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla last weekend, they have scored just one goal in their last seven matches.

 

That is not the sort of form you want to be visiting the Camp Nou in and it may offer Barcelona coach Luis Enrique the chance to carry out some squad rotations as he prepares for Tuesday's Champions League tie at home to Arsenal.

Adriano and Aleix Vidal could both step in to provide cover at full back, while Jeremy Mathieu could partner Gerard Pique in the heart of the defence.

One area that Luis Enrique won't be resting players for the moment is in attack, where Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi are guaranteed starters and Neymar returns to action after missing the 4-0 win in Eibar last week through suspension.

It is a perfect chance for the Catalans to pile yet more pressure on the second placed Atletico Madrid, who currently trail Barcelona by eight points.

Atletico will be favourites to beat a Deportivo la Coruna side that has not won in 2016.

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First Published: Mar 11 2016 | 7:04 PM IST

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