Barcelona and Getafe play out uninspiring draw

All the talk before the game was on Barcelona’s defensive issues with Gerard Pique aggravating an injury against Valencia in the Copa del Rey, and Samuel Umtiti having an enforced break after picking up too many yellow cards. In the end Ernesto Valverde gave a full debut to Colombian Yerry Mina, partnering him alongside Lucas Digne (a natural left back), with Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba on the flanks.

Neither defence had much to worry about in the opening 75 minutes however, as Getafe rarely got forward themselves, and worked hard to restrict Barcelona’s front three to speculative efforts from range. Indeed the closest they did go was an curling effort from Coutinho that keeper Guaita tipped round the post.

When Barca were able to get in behind Getafe’s backline, they were stopped in their tracks by the linesman’s flag. Getafe’s disipline in defence seeing Suarez in particular ruled offside on a number of occasions.

 

11 February 2018

Man of the moment Yerry Mina almost scored in the 77th minute, heading just wide from a corner. Suarez then directed a header straight into the goalkeeper’s hands when he had the goal at his mercy with three minutes to go.

There was time for Getafe to make one last foray into the Barcelona half as they earned a free kick. Antunes took a long run up before blasting it just over ter Stegen’s bar, and that was time.

The clean sheet will have pleased Valverde given the selection crisis he was faced with, but in truth Getafe never really threatened. Suarez did the most of any of Barcelona’s attackers, but by their high standards this was an off day. One piece of positive news for the attack was the reappearance of Ousmane Dembele late it the second half - the forward has been out with a succession of injuries for most of the season.

 

11 February 2018

For Barcelona this result is inconsequential. They maintain their unbeaten run and remain clear at the top of the league, while they can now concentrate on their Champions League tie against Chelsea. Getafe gain a point to consolidate their position in mid-table, safe from the drop but not threatening the European places.