Frenkie de Jong vies with Carles Alena during the match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona at the Col. Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe on August 13, 2023.(Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona forced to settle for draw against Getafe
Raphinha and Carles Alena clash during the match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on August 13, 2023 in Getafe, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
If nothing else, Barcelona will be happy they got this match against Getafe out of the way.
The Catalan side were forced to settle for a frustrating scoreless draw versus a Getafe side who were up to their usual, but effective, tricks.
Those “tactics” paid dividends for the home side as Raphinha lost his head and elbowed Gastón Álvarez. Prior to that action, the Brazilian had been on the receiving end of some tough challenges, and fell into their trap.
While creating little in terms of goal scoring opportunities, Barcelona did look the more threatening side even being a man down.
That man advantage lasted little as Jaime Mata picked up a second yellow in the 57th minute, leaving both sides with 10 men.
To try to get on the scoresheet, Xavi Hernandez brought on Ez Abde to start the second half. While the speedy winger had a few bright spots and a couple of shots on goal, his decision making was left wanting.
With about 20 minutes left in the second half, Ansu Fati and Lamine Yamal were brought on to add even more spark. The two almost combined for a goal as Yamal lifted a pass to Ansu inside the box. He struck, or rather shinned it, first time but it went over the Getafe goal.
In the final moments of added time, Barcelona looked to have won a penalty after a scramble in the box saw Ronald Araujo hit on the bottom of his cleat. It was a clear penalty.
But this wouldn’t be LaLiga if there wasn’t some sort of refereeing controversy.
After a VAR review, the referee took a look at the monitor and called a handball on Gavi, thus negating the subsequent action that led to the penalty. One could make the argument there was a penalty on Gavi as he was being held by his jersey.
An argument could also be made there was no handball at all.
With the draw, Barcelona drop points in their first game of the season. While it’s never a good thing to fall behind the league leaders right off the gate, the same thing happened last season.
Barcelona were held to a scoreless draw, at home, by Rayo Vallecano and then went on to win the league. They’ll be without both Xavi and Raphinha in their next match as they make their debut at “home” at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium against Cadiz.
