Injury-hit Barcelona will be looking to keep pace with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga when they travel to Getafe on Saturday.

The Catalan side start the weekend second in the table, level on 21 points with Madrid, who are ahead on goal difference ahead of their home match with Las Palmas.

The defending champions are  without injured duo Lionel Messi and Rafinha while defender Javier Mascherano will serve his first part of a two-match ban on Saturday.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique rested his leading players in midweek, including strikers Luis Suarez and Neymar, while captain Andres Iniesta is available this weekend along with Sergi Roberto.

However, Iniesta could start on the bench in view of next Wednesday's Champions League match at home to BATE Borisov.

Barcelona thrashed Getafe 6-0 at the Camp Nou the last time the teams met, but were held to a goalless draw at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez last season.

Getafe defender Alexis Ruano suffered a left knee injury in training this week and is set to miss the game while striker Alvaro Vazquez is also doubtful with a muscular problem.

Getafe coach Fran Escriba is also without injured Alvaro Medran as well as Carlos Vigaray, who is suspended.

The Madrid-based side have not beaten Barca since 2011 but have won three of their four home fixtures this season.

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla will make his first start of the season for Real Madrid against Las Palmas on Saturday.

Casilla, who joined from Espanyol this summer, will replace the injured Keylor Navas in the starting XI at the Bernabeu.

Navas has proved key for Real this season, who remain the only side unbeaten in La Liga but the Costa Rica international sustained a muscular injury during last weekend's 3-1 win at Celta Vigo and will sit out this weekend.

"Our priority is to do what is best for Real and we are not going to risk Keylor or force the return of any other player," head coach Rafael Benitez said toMarca.

"We have enough resources for our next game and there's no need to take unnecessary risks."

Real, who are also without injured pair Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale, will also rest Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema this weekend despite all five having recovered from injury.

They are all expected to return in Tuesday's Champions League home match against Paris St Germain.

Madrid are level on 21 points with second-place Barcelona,  but are ahead of the defending champions on goal difference.

Real boast the best attack and defensive line in the competition with 21 goals scored and three conceded.

Las Palmas held Villarreal to a goalless draw last time out in Quique Setien's first game in charge.

Setien replaced Paco Herrera, who was dismissed following his team's dismal run of form last week, and was satisfied with the result that saw his side keep a clean sheet for the third time this season.

"I've seen good things which can only make me optimistic," Setien said. "We need to go to the Bernabeu with personality."

Las Palmas, with just one win from their opening nine games, are 18th in the standings with just one point from their four away games.

Other fixtures (Ghana time):

Valencia vs Levante (Saturday, 5:15 pm)

Villareal vs Sevilla (Saturday, 5: 15 pm)

Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo ( Saturday, 9:05 pm)

Eibar vs Rayo Vallecano  (Sunday, 11:00 am)

Espanyol vs Granada ( Sunday, 3: 00 pm)

Sporting vs Malaga (Sunday 5;15 pm)

Real Betis vs Atlethic Bilbao (Sunday, 7: 30 pm)

-

Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @Joy997FM. Our hashtag is #JoySports. Catch La Liga live on SuperSport this weekend.