Barcelona pile pressure on Real Madrid at LaLiga summit with narrow win over Getafe

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Ben Hayward15 February 2020

Goals from Antoine Griezmann and Sergi Roberto saw Barcelona beat Getafe 2-1 at Camp Nou on Saturday to move provisionally level with Real Madrid on top of LaLiga, but the Catalans were made to work hard for their victory.

Getafe, in impressive form and in third place in the table, made life difficult for Quique Setien’s side as they pressed high in the opening minutes.

Jose Bordalas’ men thought they had taken the lead when Allan Nyom fired in a loose ball from a corner after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had saved a Jorge Molina header on 24 minutes, but the defender had fouled Samuel Umtiti in the build-up and the strike was ruled out by VAR.

Barca then took the lead 10 minutes later when Lionel Messi played a first-time pass into the area for Griezmann and the French forward dinked a fine finish over the onrushing David Soria.

Sergi Roberto then doubled Barca’s advantage after 39 minutes when he hit a low shot into the corner at the far post after a cross from Junior Firpo, who had replaced the injured Jordi Alba at left-back.

The Catalans looked comfortable for much of the second half, but substitute Angel Rodriguez - a transfer target for Barca as they look to bring in a player to replace long-term injury victim Ousmane Dembele - gave Getafe a lifeline after 66 minutes when he hit a brilliant volley into the corner from a Jaime Mata cross with Ter Stegen unable even to react.

Getafe then came close to a leveller following an almighty scramble on the Barca line, which saw Ter Stegen palm the ball away after Sergio Busquets had almost turned into his own net.

Griezmann twice missed chances to finish it off in the closing stages, blasting over from a central position when he should have scored and then sliding a low shot wide from the right.

But Barca saw out five minutes of added time to secure an important win which sees the Catalans move level at the top with Real Madrid, in action at home to struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday.

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15 February 2020

Getafe team news

Starting XI: Soria; Nyom, Djene, Etxeita, Oliveira; Etebo, Arambarri, Maksimovic, Cucurella; Molina, Mata.

Subs: Chichizola, Cabaco, Angel, Amath, Deyverson, Timor, Kenedy.

15 February 2020

Barcelona team news

Starting XI: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Arthur; Messi, Griezmann, Ansu Fati.

Subs: Neto, Araujo, Semedo, Firpo, Rakitic, Vidal, Manaj.

15 February 2020

Team news coming up!

It's a warm winter's day at Camp Nou in Barcelona ahead of today's 3pm (GMT) kick-off.

We should have the confirmed team news for you very shortly, so stick with us!

Photo: Getty

15 February 2020

Recent meetings

Historically, this is a fixture Barcelona have enjoyed.

The Blaugrana have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, with the last two encounters finishing 2-0 to the LaLiga champions.

28/09/19 Getafe 0-2 Barcelona

12/05/19 Barcelona 2-0 Getafe

06/01/19 Getafe 1-2 Barcelona

11/02/18 Barcelona 0-0 Getafe

16/09/17 Getafe 1-2 Barcelona

15 February 2020

Early pressure for Setien

Quique Setien will know that dealing with pressure is almost a condition when you agree to become Barcelona coach. 

Photo: Reuters

He needs no reminder of the demands of being in that position; his predecessor Ernesto Valverde was sacked with the club at the top of LaLiga.

The former Betis coach was brought in mainly because of his brand of attractive, passing football. But results are important too - an institution as grand as Barca demands both entertainment and results - and Setien is still yet to prove he can deliver the latter.

A 2-0 defeat at Valencia hardly helped his cause, while a last-gasp defeat to Athletic Bilbao proved fatal for their hopes of a Copa del Rey title. There is a genuine possibility that the Catalans could end the season empty-handed.

It's up to Setien to prove he can catch Real Madrid, who are three points clear at the top, by blowing away Getafe today.

15 February 2020

When Barcelona host Getafe, it's not often billed as a top-of-the-table clash. But the table doesn't lie, it's second vs third - and Getafe are the team in form.

But Jose Bordalas' side have defied all expectations to quietly creep into third place in LaLiga and the reality is that with just seven points separating the two teams, an upset at Camp Nou cannot be ruled out.

Getafe enjoyed near domination when they brushed aside Valencia 3-0 in their last fixture - their fourth straight win in the league since they were humbled by the same scoreline at home to Real Madrid.

With Barca struggling to find consistency and lacking in attacking options, there may be no better time for the surprise package to strengthen their bid for a first-ever Champions League place.  

15 February 2020

Barcelona striker search reaches farcical proportions

It is now mid-February and Barcelona are still searching for a striker.

The January transfer window came and went with no new centre-forward, despite the fact that Barca had lost Luis Suarez for four months after knee surgery.

Photo: Getty

Now, Ousmane Dembele is sidelined for the rest of the season with a thigh injury and LaLiga rules allow the Blaugrana to bring in a player outside the window.

But still, there is no new signing. Barca wanted Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January, but the Gunners were not prepared to sell and the Catalans could not afford him, either.

Barca wanted Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia but baulked at the striker's €60m release clause, while an enquiry for Real Betis striker Loren Moron has been ruled out by his club.

Ahead of their league match at home to Getafe on Saturday, Barcelona are now interested in signing Angel Rodriguez from the Madrid-based side. Coincidence? Perhaps, but the timing is suspicious again.

Angel would be available at a lower price than any of the other forwards on Barca's list. Although not first choice with his current club, he has hit a very impressive 13 goals in 28 appearances for Jose Boradalas' side this term and at 32 years old, could be tempted by the move. 

But the striker played down speculation, insisting he is focused on Getafe, saying: "They are rumours," Angel said this week. "I'm relaxed." 

And when an attacker is finally brought in, he will not be able to play in the Champions League because the deadline for squad submission was on February 3 and changes can only be made if two goalkeepers are injured and another needs to be included.

It all reeks of poor planning by Barca. Their striker search has now reached farcical proportions and worse still, it may yet drag on for some time.

15 February 2020

Predicted lineups

Here is how we see both sides shaping up this afternoon:

Predicted Barcelona XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, De Jong, Arthur; Messi, Griezmann, Fati​

Predicted Getafe XI (4-3-3): Soria; Nyom, Etxeita, Dakonam, Olivera; Jason, Maksimovic, Arambarri, Cucurella; Mata, Molina

15 February 2020

Barcelona team news

Getty ImagesGerard Pique is available for Barcelona today.

The Catalan went off with an adductor problem in the 1-0 loss to Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey last Thursday night, but was suspended anyway for Sunday’s 3-2 win at Real Betis in the league.

Lenglet scored the winner in that match in Seville and was later sent off, so the French defender will be banned for the game against Getafe.

Samuel Umtiti has overcome a knock and should start, although he is not fully fit and youngster Ronald Araujo is another option for coach Quique Setien.

Striker Luis Suarez is out for four months after knee surgery and winger Ousmane Dembele is sidelined for the rest of the season with a thigh injury.

The French forward’s long-term absence means Barca are allowed to bring in a new player outside of the transfer window, but no deal has been done yet and 22-year-old Albanian international Rey Manaj (who plays for Barca B) is in the squad for Saturday’s game.

15 February 2020

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