FC Barcelona Versus Getafe Result, Reaction And What We Learned

At the Camp Nou on Sunday, FC Barcelona received Getafe in their second La Liga home game of the season.

Here’s the result, some reaction and what we learned.

Ronald Koeman made changes

Fielding an identical outfit for Barca’s first two games, the coach made alterations to his team before the international break.

The return of Marc-Andre ter Stegen was the most notable, but there were also starts for the likes of Sergi Roberto and Emerson.

With Gerard Pique injured and Eric Garcia suspended, Clement Lenglet and Ronald Araujo filled in at center back.

Two minutes was all it took

The ball spread to the left swiftly from a throw in on the opposite flank, Jordi Alba laid a grounded pass into the box which Martin Braithwaite dummied for Roberto to slide home.

A flying start.

Getafe came back into it

Allowed to tip tap around Barca’s box with ease when dispossesing Sergio Busquets, Sandro Ramirez slotted past Ter Stegen on 18 minutes to boos from the home fans.

Until then, Barca had not had another shot on target but had played some nice football.

Carles Aleña had a rough welcome back

Sold permanently by his hometown club to Getafe earlier this year, the lad from Barcelona’s eastern suburbs was caught up in a fracas with Busquets after setting up the equalizer and was whistled by his fellow Catalans.

Memphis Depay had done nothing…until he did something spectacular

Barely getting a touch of the ball for the opening half hour, he made the most of his first big chance of note by changing the course of the game with a bullet of a shot past David Soria.

The Camp Nou cheered his name in appreciation, and that’s two in his last two appearances for the Dutchman.

Culers were given a scare

When Ter Stegen parried a shot, Enes Unal followed up and made contact with the German’s head which immediately caused him to slump to the ground.

Neto warmed up, but the number 1 was able to recover and soldier on to half time with Barca cushioning a 2-1 lead.

It was all Getafe early in the second half

Having their chances with Aleña particularly effective, the visitors looked like leveling again where Barca had hardly been in the opposition half.

Sergino Dest for Emerson was Barca’s first change

Again at fault for the conceded goal, as was seen in his cameo debut against Real Sociedad on opening day, the Brazilian did not forward his claim to the right back spot and gave the US international a chance to impress.

Roberto came off injured

Which paved the way for one of Koeman’s preseason darlings to debut in 17-year-old Gavi.

Joining him was fellow revelation Nico Gonzalez with Braithwaite also departing.

Araujo had a goal ruled offside

In the closest they had been to Soria’s goal since Depay’s strike, the Uruguayan’s tap in was no good.

Dest to Depay almost delivered

Barca finally waking up with minutes to spare, Dest dispatched a fine ball to the number nine which he couldn’t keep down and save from sailing over the bar.

Barca held on for the win

Through five minutes’ stoppage time, Memphis almost broke through clean on goal. But the highlight of this spell was hope for the future via Nico Gonzalez and Gavi passing the ball around nicely with Frenkie de Jong in midfield.

All said and done, though, they were poor

Griezmann anonymous, Emerson lost in defense, and barely able to threaten Getafe save for the goals, this doesn’t bode well for Bayern Munich’s trip here in the Champions League in just over a fortnight.

SPORT’s Toni Juanmarti called it a “discreet performance” and said “you have to try very, very, very much to be optimistic” about this team.

At least against the Bavarians, Pedri will be back and Ansu Fati too could feature.

What the coach said

Koeman: “We must highlight the attitude and the work we have put in, in order to win the game. I am very happy with the team. In the second half we were able to play better but we also have to take the rival into account.”

What the players said

Gavi: “Right now I’m the happiest boy in the world. Ever since I signed for Barça as a child I dreamed of playing at Camp Nou, and today I have been able to achieve it.”