Barcelona off to slow start in LaLiga title defense with scoreless draw vs. Getafe

FC Barcelona began its LaLiga title defense with a scoreless draw against Getafe on Sunday at the Coliseum that left doubts in the champion’s mind. Xavi‘s men were unable to break Bordals‘ side’s defensive framework at any time. If the azulgranas’ sights are set more on Europe this year than on the domestic championship – in which they only have Madrid as a rival – they must improve. The levers are useful for signing and registering players, but they do not score goals?

There was interest to know the eleven that Xavi took out. In the end it was the most repeated eleven in the preseason in which Gavi was left out. Oriol Romeu remains in the center next to De Jong, with whom he gets along very well, and Pedri moves to the attacking trident with Lewandowski and Raphinha. In defense, ahead of captain Ter Stegen, there was Araujo at fullback and Kound at center back, changing their roles compared to last season. The presence of Oriol Romeu is essential as he is the one who best fulfills the absence of Busquets when it comes to defending and initiating plays.

The strategy of Bordals’ Getafe was clear: to unsettle Bara. The soccer, if that, for another day. The repeated fouls without the ball by the Blue and Whites’ defenders -with Damin as master of ceremonies- paid off and Raphinha was sent off after 40 minutes for losing his temper and elbowing Gastn. Gndogan, Lewandowski and Raphinha, before being sent off, were all given a good hiding, but it was the away side who were down to one man. That’s what happens when the VAR is not for yellow cards and Soto Grado was always looking the other way. Incredible, by the way, was the yellow card that the Riojan forgave Araujo after he caught the ball with both hands inside the field.

In a first half with hardly any chances, the best was for Barcelona after a shot by Raphinha that Soria cleared over Duarte and the rebound of the ball in the center back ended up on the post. Getafe’s numerical superiority was hardly noticeable in a team more focused on defending than attacking. Their only arrival was a long pass to Latasa, who missed a shot that was blocked by Kound.

In the second half, both Bordals and Xavi made offensive changes. Portu came on for Mitrovic, who was injured in his right ankle, and Abde came on for Christensen. The presence of the Moroccan on the pitch sought more depth on the wing while De Jong moved back to the center back position. The ball was still Bara’s, but without clear arrivals. On the quarter of an hour, the score was level after Jaime Mata was shown a second yellow card for a hard tackle on Araujo.

Robert Lewandowski nearly scores for FC Barcelona

Bara continued to press and a forced header by Lewandowski was cleared off the line by Damin Surez. Bordals refreshed the attack by bringing on Choco Lozano and Borja Mayoral.

The entry of Abde gave Bara another speed and two runs by the Moroccan caused panic in the Blue and Whites’ stands. In the first one, he got the better of Damin, but his pass did not find a finisher and, in the second one, Xavi Hernndez was sent off for calling a foul on Djen that did not exist.

In the last quarter of an hour Lamine Yamal entered the field. The boy won in the azulgrana rotation to players like Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati or Gavi. The latter two were Xavi’s final bullets in the quest for victory. And Ansu Fati came close to scoring with the first ball he touched after a measured pass from Lamine Yamal.

The minutes passed, but Getafe did not suffer too much. The match ended with controversy when the Bara players called for a penalty by Iglesias on Araujo. After the VAR review, it was found to be a penalty, but it was not whistled for a previous handball by Gavi. The Coliseum continues to be difficult for Bara, they have now gone four games without a win and without scoring.