?Barcelona closed the gap at the top of La Liga with a big win at Camp Nou, as they beat Getafe 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
Second place met third with both sides looking to close the gap on league leaders Real Madrid. Barcelona could regain top spot on goal difference with an emphatic win, while Getafe could close the gap between them and the Blaugrana to just four points.
Against the run of play, Getafe found the back of the net and took the lead. Or so they thought. While Allan Nyom had done well to follow up the rebound from Molina’s header, he got to the ball by violently elbowing Samuel Umtiti in the face en route to following it up.
Getafe’s well-earned goal amassed to nothing, as a lengthy VAR check ruled the goal out. In fact, Nyom was lucky not to receive a straight red card for his foul, instead staying on the pitch.
Intentional or not, the elbow to Umtiti’s face directly allowed Nyom to get free for the follow up. A goal that stands without VAR, but Barça thankful for it at the moment… #BarçaGetafe
— Will Hare (@willhare) February 15, 2020
That Nyom guy is fortunate not to get carded. That was a deliberate foul leading to the goal. Incidents like this VAR should be meant for not the drama it is always causing. VAR right on this one. #barcagetafe
— #Vinco Guendouzi® (@AfrehVincent) February 15, 2020
Antoine Griezmann punished the visitors ten minutes later, putting Barcelona in front. He touched the ball over goalkeeper over David Soria with an audacious finish, with ?Lionel Messi’s one-touch assist equally a gracious sight to behold as Barça went ahead.
Sergi Roberto made it two for the Blaugrana, this time with an excellently worked team goal. Messi helped work the ball across the pitch as it found the feet of Junior Firpo, and his cut back cross was swept home by Roberto to give the Catalan club breathing space.
Barcelona maintained their possession, but Getafe were determined to get back into the game. They did exactly that just after the hour mark, with a superb finish from substitute Angel Rodriguez bringing them within one goal of Barcelona, opening up the tie.
GO-LA-ZO
Ángel! Off the bench! AGAIN!
Doesn’t celebrate though…could it be for his possibly very near future in a Barça shirt? ?
2-1 #BarcaGetafe #LaLiga
— Semra Hunter (@SemraHunter) February 15, 2020
Getafe were inches away from drawing level, but ?Marc-Andre ter Stegen clawed the ball away from his line. The visitors were revitalised after their consolation goal, but the German goalkeeper was doing everything in his power to keep them out.
?Barcelona get a much needed rest in advance of their next ?La Liga clash, as they welcome relegation battlers Eibar to Catalonia next Saturday. Getafe on the other hand are in European action, hosting Dutch giants Ajax in the Europa League round of 32.
Let’