体坛英语资讯：Tricky Getafe test as Barca kick off 2019 away from home

MADRID, Jan. 5 -- FC Barcelona face a tough task on Sunday when they visit Getafe's Alfonso Perez Coliseum stadium in their return to Liga Santander action.

The league leaders will hope the Christmas break won't affect the excellent form they showed in the run in to the holidays when they claimed important 4-0 and 5-0 wins away to Espanyol and Levante.

Getafe's ground promises to be much tougher to conquer, because although the side from the south of Madrid have lost three home games this campaign, they have only conceded four goals in front of their fans and two of those came in a 2-0 setback against Atletico Madrid.

Pepe Bordalas' side made the best of their resources and can also be expected to take full advantage of playing at home, by leaving the pitch dry and allowing the grass to grow as long as it was allowed to make conditions as complicated as possible to try and stop Barca's passing game.

Leo Messi returned to Barcelona earlier this week after his holidays in Argentina and will look to carry on the form which has made him the top scorer in the league with 15 goals and the player who has given the most assists to his team-mates with 10.

Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has virtually a full squad at his disposal with Sergio Roberto recovering from a hamstring injury to press for a return at right back, although his main decision will be whether he tries to shoehorn Phillipe Coutinho into his side.

Ousmane Dembele's form before the break means he will start in the ground where he suffered a tendon injury last season, but Coutinho was looking jaded before the break and Valverde may opt to play the more dynamic Arturo Vidal after the aggressive Chilean also impressed before the break.

Barca will know their main rivals' results before they kick off and with third place Sevilla entertaining second place Atletico Madrid, this could be a chance for them to extend their current 3-point lead at the top of the table, but if they want all the points they will have to work hard for them.