Getafe vs Barcelona LIVE: Latest score and updates as Lionel Messi goal gives visitors early lead

Follow live coverage of Getafe vs Barcelona

(REUTERS)

Barcelona visit Getafe in their first La Liga match following the league’s winter break as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Ernesto Valverde’s team have won their last four league matches since drawing with Atletico Madrid, who are three points behind the leaders in second, in November, and have not lost to Getafe since 2011.

The Barcelona manager recently revealed talks with the club on his future will be put on hold until the end of the season. "In football you never know what will happen. The contract has an optional year and at the end of the season we will decide. We have not even reached the middle of the season," he told the club’s in-house TV channel.

When is it?

Getafe vs Barcelona begins at 18:45 GMT at Coliseum Aldonso Perez.

Where to watch

Eleven Sports are showing live online coverage on Eleven Sports 1

Odds

Getafe to win: 6/1

Barcelona to win: 2/5

Draw: 4/1

Prediction

Getafe 0-3 Barcelona: Lionel Messi and co were in great form before the winter break and there is no reason to believe that they can’t continue that run, starting with Getafe in Madrid.

[6 January 2019 15:39 · Jack Watson]

Welcome

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Getafe vs Barcelona. 

The match kicks-off at 18:45 (GMT) and we'll be bringing you the latest updates, starting with team news from around 17:30.

In the meantime...

[6 January 2019 19:30 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Team News

[6 January 2019 19:37 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona can move five points clear at the top of La Liga with a win over Getafe at the Coliseum today. Ernesto Valverde's side have not kicked a ball in 2019, but the year has been almost perfect for them thus far. Atletico Madrid and Sevilla shared the points in a top of the table clash earlier today, while Real Madrid were beaten at home against Real Sociedad.

It leaves the Blaugrana in an excellent position. But today's game will not be easy. Getafe are in seventh and enjoying a very good season. José Bordalás's team boast the joint best defensive record in the division - they have conceded just 13 goals and only four of them have come at home. Lionel Messi, then, may find things more difficult than usual.

[6 January 2019 19:39 · Callum Rice-Coates]

[6 January 2019 19:45 · Callum Rice-Coates]

We're underway at the Coliseum. Can Barcelona stretch their lead at the top of La Liga?

[6 January 2019 19:49 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Getafe 0-0 Barcelona

4 minutes

Barcelona are dominating the ball in the early stages but Getafe, as expected, are harrying, not allowing the visitors to play their usually fluid football. Denying Messi space will be key for the hosts tonight.

[6 January 2019 19:51 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Getafe 0-0 Barcelona

5 minutes

Dembele surges through the middle, beats a couple of Getafe players and finds himself in the box. He cuts inside and goes down under a  challenge, but the referee ignores his appeals for a penalty.

[6 January 2019 19:52 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Getafe 0-0 Barcelona

6 minutes

The hosts get their first shot off. Rodríguez is picked out on the edge of the box and hits one first time. It flies over the bar, but it's a promising attack for Getafe.

[6 January 2019 19:56 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Getafe 0-0 Barcelona

9 minutes

Getafe have the ball in the net, and the fans celebrate. But it's disallowed. A cross into the box is converted by Mata, who wheels away in delight. The hosts are penalised, though, for a push on Lenglet. It looks suspiciously like he might have gone down far too easily.

[6 January 2019 19:58 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Getafe 0-0 Barcelona

12 minutes

Messi, for the first time, picks up the ball with some space to run at Getafe. He's met with a wall of blue shirts and Dakonam comes away with the ball.

Barcelona's Arthur then picks up a yellow for raising his arms in an aerial challenge.