Match Preview: Tuesday 21/03/2006 21:00 (GMT+1): La Liga match day 29
FC Barcelona - Getafe
Camp Nou, Barcelona – capacity: 99.000
Referee: Alfonso Pérez Burrull
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Váldes – Belletti, Puyol, Rodri (Oleguer), Sylvinho (Gio) – Iniesta (Van Bommel), Motta, Deco, - Giuly, Eto'o, Ronaldinho – Manager: Frank Rijkaard
Getafe (4-4-2):Luis Garcia - Pulido, Contra, Tena, Pernía - Alberto, Diego Rivas, Vivar Dorado, Mario Cotelo - Riki, Paunovic - Manager: Bernd Schuster
Frank Rijkaard has announced his squad for the Barça versus Getafe league match. The main news is the call-up of Barca B defender Rodri, as well as the returns of Thiago Motta and Maxi López. Apart from the injured Rafa Márquez and Edmílson, Henrik Larsson is also out of the Barça squad, purely to rest the player after his stunning performances in the last couple of matches. Getafe will be without Jaime Gavilán (red card suspension) and Fabio Celestini (injury). Although David Belenguer was named in the squad, he will undergo a late fitness test.
FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard named the following squad against Getafe:
| Valdés, Jorquera, Iniesta, Van Bommel, Ezquerro, Gio, Puyol, Oleguer, Deco, Rodri, Maxi, Sylvinho, Gabri, Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Motta, Belletti and Giuly. |
After the disastrous weekend for Barça´s main challengers for the spanish La Liga title, FC Barcelona are now eleven points clear at the top of the table and in a very comfortable position. It looks that the Barca team is more focused than ever. The downside to Barcelona's win at Real Sociedad have been the injuries of Rafael Márquez and Edmílson. Barca coach Frank Rijkaard will have to re-organise the defence for the next matches.
Marquez will be out for about six weeks and Edmilson for at least two. Both Barca players will miss the La Liga matches against Getafe, Malaga and Real Madrid, as well as the Champions League quarter final first leg (Marquez also the 2nd leg) against Benfica. Barca Captain Carles Puyol will be available for the Primera Liga matches but will miss the Benfica match due to a yellow card suspension.
FC Barcelona will have problems in the middle of the back four but there are plenty of options for different players who are able to cover the vacant positions. 
The new face in the Barça team will be young centre back Rodri. Rodri has been called in from the Barça B team to be named in the final squad for the Getafe match. There should not be any problems with the youngster playing at centre back tonight. Rodri is a quality player and has already played a few times with the Barça team.
But it is unsure if Frank Rijkaard will play the young defender. He might get a first team opportunity against Bernd Schuster's side Getafe but Barca coach Rijkaard has a different idea about using young reserve team players.
"I prefer them to come in when the team is working" he said. "I like them to participate, but always being careful over the timing. For important games, I usually prefer to stick to the first team squad, but there are always exceptions. Rodri is a lad we know well. He has played with us more than once and we know his qualities. And he has the right mentality should we decide to use him." 
Barca are clear favourites tonight and we all expect that the match will be brightened up by Ronaldinho once again. The Brazilian always likes to put on a special, magical show of his technical skills for his catalan fans, but the match against Getafe is on his birthday and he will certainly be looking to do something extra special tonight. The Barca supporters are already looking forward to it!
In the first meeting of this season Barça won 3-1 at “El Coliseum”. Ex-Barça captain and current Getafe coach Bernd Schuster stated that he is coming back to the Camp Nou to win. Reality is that Barça are clear favourites and do not intend to drop any points.
Our prediction: Ronaldinho will put on a great show and will dance Samba with the opposite defence. Getafe will be busy in limiting the damage against the champions in a one-sided match. Barça will win 3-0. Ronaldinho will score and break his own private goal scoring record as well as Samuel Eto´o will be scoring his 100th goal in La Liga.
Barcelona 3 - 0 Getafe.
Visca el Barça!
