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9 months ago
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The season so far has been relatively insufferable for the average Barcelona fan. Watching the team crash out of two knockout competitions, fall apart in two Clasicos and sit significantly behind Real Madrid on the table, the year has been far from ideal.
Last night’s clash against Getafe, in many ways, brought the joy back into Catalonia. After endless nights of tight and hard-fought wins, Barcelona dished out a clinical and complete rout of Jose Pepe Bordalas’ men to record a stunning 4-0 win.
Raphinha, Joao Felix, Frenkie de Jong, and Fermin Lopez all got on the scoresheet in Xavi and Barcelona’s night of no wrongs.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points from Barcelona’s 4-0 Getafe which in many ways could be a course-defining result for the rest of the Blaugranas’ season.
Moving in the right direction
When Barcelona took to the field against Napoli earlier this week, there was no doubt that they were the better team on the night. They pressed in attack and forced Napoli back in numbers, but an eventual mistake in defence cost them the win.
It was thus emphasised that the Catalans’ showing involved clear-cut improvement and that it was vital they tread on the silver lining. Last night, Barcelona did precisely that as they took apart Getafe with great precision and improved on their flaws against Napoli.
Xavi’s men were far from clinical throughout the game. They racked up five big chances, an xG of three, and had no dearth of chances against Jose Bordalas’ men. On another night, the scoreline could well have read six or seven.
What was impressive from Barcelona, which can be graded only as an improvement, was their attitude throughout the game. Unlike previous outings where they released the pressure after going up, Barcelona maintained their dominance and looked for more.
At no point in the game did Xavi’s men give up the initiative, for they pushed for the fourth goal as late as the final minute of the game. The 4-0 result capped off a well-worked, systematic, and clean win for Barcelona in one of their best performances of the season.
The spice from Brazil
While players like Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Cancelo and Frenkie de Jong were all in imperious form yesterday, a certain Raphinha walked home with the man-of-the-match award.
The recent months have not been easy on the Brazilian winger, who missed a month of action through injury. His time on the sidelines opened the doors for Lamine Yamal who dropped masterclasses week-in and week-out to establish his name high on the pecking order.
Now held against the high standard sets by La Masia’s prodigal talent, Raphinha was under pressure to prove his worth to the manager, and he did so in style against Getafe.
In 90 minutes, the former Leeds United winger recorded four shots and three key passes. He created one big chance and was the team’s most threatening presence in the final third.
Barcelona’s strategy of playing balls over the top suited well to his playing style as he repeatedly got behind the Getafe defence and into great scoring positions.
He eventually opened the scoring on the night with a similar move, exhibiting great composure to finish past David Soria from a tight angle.
Man of the match today. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The Brazilian was unlucky to not get a hat-trick to his name, as he misplayed a few big chances and selflessly attempted to pass the ball to Felix during a massive chance in the first half.
Nevertheless, he did eventually get an assist to his name when he smartly found Frenkie de Jong in a good position for the team’s third.
Raphinha’s performance against Getafe was a roaring statement that he is up for the challenge against Yamal, and it can only be good news for Xavi who has been without resources in attack for the past month.
A clean sheet
While a lot is being said about Barcelona’s attacking display against Jose Bordalas’ side, the defence was equally spectacular, for one of the first times this season.
Xavi made a fundamental change on the night, opting to deploy Pau Cubarsi at right-centre-back and Ronald Araujo to the left, and the new system worked wonders.
If Getafe did not have too many chances to play with despite their incessant balls over the top, the Catalan defence has a big role to play in the same. Araujo was confident and telling with his physical presence while young Cubarsi once again delivered an absolute clinic.
The Uruguayan and Spanish defenders recorded 13 and 16 defensive actions respectively. Curbarsi, in particular, racked up a stunning eight clearances, two tackles and won 100% of his six attempted duels.
The defence’s combined effort, along with some vital saves from Ter Stegen, brought up Barcelona’s first clean sheet in six games and their second in twelve.
It goes only on to show what a rarity clean sheets have become for the Catalans, who ironically were the best defensive side last year with a record clean-sheet tally.
