Getafe 0-0 Barcelona: Match Review

Real Madrid saved Barcelona’s blushes last weekend when the Catalans increased their lead courtesy of the Merengues’ defeat in La Liga. On Sunday, Barcelona faced Getafe in their first game since the draw and did not have as much cushion after Real Madrid’s win over Cadiz.

Xavi opted to use a strange combination of players on the night with a lineup that raised eyebrows across the globe.

Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in goal with Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde partnering in defence. Jordi Alba was deployed as left-back and Sergi Roberto took duties on the right flank.

The three-man midfield comprised Sergio Busquets, Gavi, and Franck Kessie. Puzzlingly, Alejandro Balde played as the left-winger with Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha completed the forward line.

The opening minutes of the game saw Getafe at their best with their combination play flowing through the Catalan side. In just the fifth minute, some well-strung passes opened the way for Mayoral to cross the ball to Munir El Haddadi, whose header was poor.

The ninth minute saw the start of some Catalan movements in the final third and the rhythm slowly returned. However, they suffered a big setback in the 17th minute when Sergi Roberto went down injured and had to be replaced with Eric Garcia.

The Blaugranas maintained their constant efforts to open up the hosts’ low block but found it difficult. Their best chance of the half, however, did arrive in the 25th minute.

Lewandowski’s smart ball to Raphinha saw the Brazilian open in acres of space with just David Soria to beat. His shot slammed the post and fell at the feet of Balde who had the goal at his begging. Yet, his attempt hit the woodwork too.

The final 20 minutes of the half saw one-way traffic. Xavi’s men took the game to the hosts’ box and relentlessly pushed attack after attack only to be denied by Getafe’s impermeable defence.

The team’s final chance of the half came in added time when Busquets’ cross fell sweetly for Barcelona’s Polish striker. The header was on target, but well saved by Soria.

The game was goalless at half-time, and Xavi was clearly the more unhappy of the two managers. The last time Barcelona drew two successful games 0-0 was in 2005, and the manager needed to make alterations to ensure the record was not equalled.

Getafe’s bright start to the second period echoed their performance at the start of the game and their period of dominance lasted a solid 8 minutes. The visitors immediately hit back with a solid Kessie volley that Soria stopped. Minutes later, Lewy miscued his header off Alba’s pass.

Jordi Alba and Franck Kessie came off for Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres respectively in the 68th minute.

With 15 minutes to go, Raphinha had a brilliant chance to put his side ahead but once again fell short with the finish.

The Catalans’ situation went from bad to worse as they neared the end of regulation time with no goals to show. Meanwhile, Getafe had fluctuations between good and suppressed spells.

Getafe’s best chance of the game came from a similar spell when a quick counter and sloppy defence saw Borja Mayoral open on goal with just Ter Stegen to beat. However, his shot did not even strike the target.

Pablo Torre came on for Raphinha in the 88th minute. However, nothing could help the Catalans score past Soria on the night.

The second consecutive 0-0 draw for the first time in close to 18 years see Xavi’s men drop two points from their 13-point lead over Real Madrid. They next face Atletico Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou before playing Rayo Vallecano away(a fixture they lost last season).