Barcelona remained unbeaten in La Liga, but were unable to get a goal as they struggled against Getafe in a scoreless draw at Camp Nou.
Barcelona, a team full of spark and moments of pure and magical football this season, were held down to a powerful Getafe, as Ernesto Valverde has blamed the result on fatigue due to their hectic schedule during this past month.
After an unexpected and surprising scoreless draw at the Camp Nou against a tough Getafe, Lionel Messi and Co. will be looking to explode with goals in their upcoming match in La Liga in order to prepare themselves to face the almighty Blues at the Stamford Bridge.
A Defensive Getafe
Although many thought the game would be a walk in the park for the Catalans, the away side shocked the 75,000 fans, putting in a defensive masterclass at the Camp Nou. Getafe’s strong wall in the back kept out the likes of Messi, Suarez, Coutinho, Iniesta and Dembele from finding the net.
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Dembele Is Back
After his first hamstring wound back in mid-September, the French footballer was forced out of football action for 110 days but his return to the field was short-lived after injuring his hamstring yet again in January. Sidelined for three weeks, Barcelona’s big money signing finally made his comeback to the team against Getafe on Sunday.
Struggling to find his sparkle while on the pitch, fans have poured down with criticism on Barcelona’s starlet. The youngster still needs time to get back into form as well as to adapt to Barca’s style of play. Dembele will be hoping he can prove himself in the club’s crucial Champions League clash against Chelsea.
A Frustrated Barca
With 90 plus minutes, Messi and his powerful team were not able to break down the walls of Getafe. Despite the Blaugrana still holding a seven-point lead in the league, the frustrated Barca players refused to speak with the media after the draw. Valverde and Andres Iniesta were the only ones who opened up about the game.
"“We were lacking some freshness and rhythm, especially in the first half,” Valverde confessed.“Getafe are a team who stop you from playing so you don’t get close to their box. As the game went on we attacked more and more and despite our best efforts it wasn’t to be. They defended their box well and we lacked a bit of spark.”“Normally the months of January and February are like this. We are lucky to be in all competitions and it can be tiring,” Iniesta then added."
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In the end, Barcelona were frustrated by Getafe but it didn’t hurt their place in the La Liga standings. The Blaugrana sit 7 points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the table and look to bounce back against Eibar on Saturday.