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MADRID Men's Nike Hyperadapt 1.0 JP Team Orange Casual Clearance , Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona face a trip to the capital on Saturday night when they play Getafe in the Alfonso Perez Coliseum.


Luis Enrique' s side will do so knowing Real Madrid' s result in Almeria from Friday night, which will almost certainly leave them needing a win in order to continue their chase of the current BBVA Primera Liga leaders.


Getafe has at times been a difficult ground for Barca to play in, although they will be favorites to defeat a side which has only taken one point from their last two games. Barca, meanwhile may not always be convincing in their football, but with Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez showing signs they are working an understanding, they always carry a goal threat.


That was made clear on Wednesday night when each of the trio scored in the 3-1 Champions League win at home to Paris Saint Germain.


Barca were hardly at their best in that game, but their firepower in attack was enough to see them home in a game where Luis Enrique experimented with his defense, playing three central defenders and forward, Pedro Rodriguez as a wing-back.


The return of Dani Alves should end the need for a repeat of that on Saturday, but it did show the Barca coach is willing to take risks. Whether or not the experiment was a genuine success, is, however, open to debate as Paris created several chances against Barca and could have at least drawn the game with better finishing.


Javier Mascherano will probably return to the heart of the defense, where he will probably partner Gerard Pique with Jordi Alba providing pace down the left.


Ivan Rakitic and Xavi Hernandez could also be back in Getafe and the signs are Barca will have to break down a packed defense and midfield, as the visitors look to sit deep and use the guile of Pablo Sarabia and Pedro Leon, to try and hurt Barca on the break or from set pieces.

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Italian players pose for a photo prior to the UEFA Women's EURO 2017 soccer tournament Group B match between Russia and Italy at the Sparta Stadium in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, July 17, 2017. The Russians won the game 2-1. (XinhuaYe Pingfan)






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A renewed coalition between German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDUCSU conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats is "the best option for Germany," CSU head Horst Seehofer said Sunday, raising hopes for an end to the political impasse.


Merkel has been scrambling to avert snap elections after talks to form a new government with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the left-leaning Greens broke down a week ago.


The Social Democrats had vowed to go into opposition after a disappointing showing in the September general election, but in a U-turn on Friday, SPD chief Martin Schulz said he was ready for talks with Merkel's bloc.


"An alliance between the conservatives and the SPD is the best option for Germany, better in any case than 'Jamaica,' new elections or a minority government," Seehofer, leader of Merkel's Bavarian sister party, told the Bild am Sonntag.


The failed three-way tie-up between the CDUCSU, the Greens and the FDP had been dubbed "Jamaica" because the parties' colors match those of the Caribbean country's flag.


Merkel, who has balked at the idea of a repeat election, said Saturday she wanted to form a government "very soon." Talks with the SPD should be based on "mutual respect" and "compromise," she added. The chancellor, who is eyeing a fourth term, will meet with top brass from her CDU party on Sunday evening to discuss the way forward.


A breakthrough could come on Thursday, when German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hosts talks between Merkel, Seehofer and Schulz.


Schulz had categorically ruled out another stint as junior coalition partner after four years of governing in Merkel's shadow led the SPD to its worst result in decades in the September 24 poll.


But with Europe's top economy facing prolonged political uncertainty after the collapse of the Jamaica talks, and with fears that snap polls would mainly benefit the far-right AfD, Schulz bowed to pressure to soften his stance.


An Emnid survey for the Bild newspaper on Sunday showed that 52 percent of Germans were in favor of a repeat left-right "grand coalition."


Seehofer warned the SPD however not to come to the negotiating table trying to dictate terms.