Barcelona lost ground on title rivals Real Madrid with an uninspired performance in a 0-0 draw at rain-lashed Getafe yesterday that left them four points behind the La Liga leaders.

Real jetted off to the Club World Cup in Morocco after a 4-1 win at Almeria on Friday extended their Spanish record winning streak to 20 matches in all competitions.

They have 39 points from 15 matches and will top the table over the two-week Christmas break for a 34th time.

Second-placed Barca, missing injured Brazil captain Neymar from their forward line, needed a win to trim the gap back to two points but struggled against some gritty Getafe defending at the Coliseum in the Madrid suburbs.

Lionel Messi was unable to convert the few chances that came his way and add to his 13 La Liga goals this season, although he came close when he curled a 52nd-minute free-kick against the bar.

The Argentina captain has hit the frame of the goal eight times in Spain’s top flight this term, twice as many as the next most frequent, Real’s Karim Benzema.

Barca’s Uruguay forward Luis Suarez had another frustrating night and has still not opened his account in La Liga in seven appearances since his ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup expired at the end of October.

Valencia, in fifth, beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0 at the Mestalla.

Primera Liga

Played yesterday
Getafe vs Barcelona 0-0; Valencia vs R. Vallecano 3-0; Cordoba vs Levante 0-0; Malaga vs Celta Vigo 1-0.

Today: 12.00 Espanyol vs Granada. 17.00 Sevilla vs Eibar. 19.00 Atl. Madrid vs Villarreal. 21.00 R. Sociedad vs A. Bilbao.

Tomorrow: 20.45 Deportivo vs Elche.

Leading standings: R. Madrid 39; Barcelona 35; Atl. Madrid 32; Sevilla 29; Valencia 28; Malaga 27, Villarreal 24.

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