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February 25, 2024
Barcelona extended their unbeaten streak to six games across all competitions with a convincing 4-0 win over Getafe, keeping their faint La Liga title hopes alive. Raphinha opened the scoring, followed by goals from Joao Felix, Frenkie de Jong, and Fermin Lopez. With this victory, Barcelona sits five points behind league leaders Real Madrid, having played one game more.
Raphinha and Joao Felix stood out at Estadi Olympic Lluis Companys, leading the Catalan side to a dominant display. Barcelona took control of the match after a scrappy opening 20 minutes filled with misplaced passes and long-range attempts. Getafe’s early effort from Mason Greenwood was saved by Ter Stegen, but Raphinha broke the deadlock. After a failed corner from Getafe, Jules Kounde set him free, allowing Raphinha to slot the ball past the advancing David Soria for a much-needed opener.
Barcelona’s pacey wingers and fluid midfield link-up play consistently exploited the space left by Getafe, regularly beating their offside trap. Robert Lewandowski nearly added to the tally, missing a Raphinha cross while sliding in.
As the match progressed, the physicality increased, leading to yellow cards for Getafe’s Omar Alderete and Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan after an off-the-ball incident. Raphinha had a chance to double the lead just before halftime. Still, he overhit a pass to an unmarked Felix, leaving him frustrated as he headed down the tunnel.
Shortly after the break, Luis Milla gave Barcelona a moment of concern with a long-range shot that Ter Stegen saved onto the post. However, Barcelona quickly found their rhythm, showcasing the best goal of the match.
Building down the right, Cancelo spotted Christensen’s run and sent him into space. Christensen delivered a perfectly weighted ball to Joao Felix, who tapped in their second. It was a simple, elegant football that Xavi Hernandez would have been proud of in his playing days.
With their confidence soaring, Barcelona looked threatening in every attack. Just after the hour mark, Frenkie de Jong scored the third goal when a deflected Gundogan pass drew Soria off his line. Raphinha intercepted the ball and laid it back for De Jong to finish quickly, leaving Getafe vulnerable.
Both teams made substitutions, with Felix and Raphinha receiving applause from the home crowd. In the match’s dying moments, substitute Fermin Lopez capped off the scoring. De Jong orchestrated the play, freeing Vitor Roque, whose powerful shot was saved by Soria, only for Lopez to pounce on the rebound.
Since the announcement that manager Xavi will depart at the season’s end, Barcelona has shown signs of improvement. They delivered their biggest victory since September and extended their unbeaten run to six games across all competitions. While Getafe struggled to showcase their quality, Barcelona’s second-half performance was a testament to their revitalized spirit. With confidence growing and the shackles seemingly off, the team has climbed to second place, narrowing the gap to five points behind their rivals in the capital.
Could they make a comeback in the title race? It seems unlikely, but this positive momentum is encouraging. However, a comfortable win over Getafe doesn’t mean they’re back to their best. An actual test of their title credentials will come on March 3 when they face Athletic Club away. A victory in the Basque Country would firmly place them back in contention.
Raphinha delivered a game-changing performance that will significantly boost his confidence. Back in the starting lineup after an injury, his speed and well-timed runs consistently troubled the Getafe defense in the first half. He scored his first La Liga goal of the calendar year and should have had a second just before halftime.
His link-up play with Gundogan and De Jong was exceptional, and he selflessly assisted De Jong in the third goal. When Raphinha plays with such flair—dribbling at defenders and exploiting space—it highlights how valuable he can be for Barcelona.
Ter Stegen 7; Kounde 7, Cubarsi 7, Cancelo 7, Araujo 6; Christensen 8, Gundogan 8, De Jong 9; Lewandowski 7, Felix 9, Raphinha 9.
Subs: Lopez 8, Pedri 6, Fort 6, Romeu 6.
Soria 6; Alderete 7, Alvarez 6, Djené 5, Iglesias 5; Kourouma 6, Maksimovic 5, Milla 5, Ricco 7; Greenwood 5, Mayoral 6.
Subs: Carmona 6, Alena 6, Santiago 5, Mata 6, O. Rodriguez 6.
On a quick break, Koundé plays a precise ball to Raphinha, who slots it into the left corner past Soria for the opening goal.
Lewandowski turns provider but overhits his pass to Raphinha in a two-on-two situation with Felix. The chance goes begging.
A beautiful move: Cancelo finds Christensen, who slides a perfect ball to Joao Felix, finishing from close range.
De Jong drives forward and passes to Gundogan, whose deflected ball allows Raphinha to set up De Jong for an easy finish into an empty net.
Substitute Fermin Lopez capitalizes on a rebound from Vitor Roque’s shot, sealing the victory.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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