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Barcelona took their seventh-successive league victory that opened La Liga when making sure of the four-point gap top of the table with a tight 1-0 win over Getafe at Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on a cold Wednesday evening. Lewandowski gave his side the lead in the early stages and though they dominated most of the match, Barcelona failed to capitalize on a series of opportunities and was allowed to take its perfect campaign for a narrow margin.
FIRST HALF
- Getafe began with a ferocity that bewildered everyone by pressing relentlessly, dislocating Barcelona and leaving them unsettled. Only ten minutes into the match, an aimed cross by Álex Sola pinned down former Barcelona man Carles Pérez as he headed the ball that needed a spectacular save from Iñaki Peña.
- As the game went on, Barça slowly gained control but could not build much from behind a tightly marshaled Getafe defense. The right flank became their outlet and Lamine Yamal and Jules Kounde repeatedly crossed to try to expose the left-back, Juan Iglesias.
- It was from one such partnership that the breakthrough came: Yamal released Kounde with a slick pass, and Kounde's cross, fumbled by goalkeeper David Soria, allowed Lewandowski to pounce and finish with ease.
- With the lead safe, Barcelona trusted more, building intricate passing moves in the middle of the field. They lacked just that final touch for far too many times. More or less, they had to rely on long-range efforts, as Getafe's defense was solid. Their best opportunity came when Pablo Torre played a beautifully weighted through ball to Lewandowski. Only his shot, though, was straight at Soria.
- For Getafe, the attacking threat subsided after that early spell, and this time around, they appeared more intent on making the scoreline at least closer at half-time, successfully fending off further damage as the first half came to a close.
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SECOND HALF
- It was much like their electric opening matches that the Blaugrana played out of the blocks in the second period, looking like they were bouncing off the walls. Their movement off the ball was sharper, passing more incisive as they went about prodding open Getafe's defensive structure with growing frequency.
- In the opening quarter of an hour after the break, Barcelona created several dangerous chances, with perhaps the closest being a Yamal shot from which Soria slightly groped to tip away. Manager Hansi Flick brought on Ferran
- Torres just after the hour mark to inject additional energy into the attack, and it felt as though a second goal was inevitable
- Yamal and Raphinha had agonizingly drawn level with a double through the lead, however somehow, with 20 minutes remaining, Getafe remained within touching distance. Believing his team needed more control in midfield, Flick did the logical thing by replacing Lewandowski with Pedri whose immediate impact saw Barcelona assert even greater dominance over possession.
- Soon after Pedri comes on, Eric García wastes a golden opportunity whereas Raphinha fluffs another with a wayward-headed attempt, and Barcelona invites the possibility of being condemned for their profligacy in front of the goal.
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- Getafe, desperate to salvage something from the game, sent some perilous crosses into the Barcelona box in the dying minutes, but stout defending by Pau Cubarsí and his colleagues was enough to ensure that the Blaugrana would hold firm. The final whistle brought relief and confirmed that Barcelona had kept its perfect start to the league season on track.
- It wasn't near its best fluidly on Barcelona under Flick but has reminded us that such a system hardly rattles on days when their attacking play doesn't go as smoothly as they like. Seven wins from seven matches testified to the excellence of the club, for indeed this team has given much to feel good about to the fans.
- This was proving to be a completely different cup of tea when the team showed resilience once again, and are still perfect with seven deserved league victories, with the team that the fans relish to watch and cheer for.
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Player ratings:
Barcelona: Peña; Kounde, Cubarsí (Fort 88’), Iñigo, Balde (Martín 88’); Eric, Casadó; Yamal, Torre (Ferran 63’), Raphinha; Lewandowski (Pedri 77’)
Goal: Lewandowski (19’)
Getafe: Soria; Djené (Rico 87’), Berrocal, Alderete, Iglesias; Milla; Pérez, Yellu (Arambarri 63’), Aleñá (Mayoral 63’), Sola (Keita 63’); Uche (Yildirim 80’)
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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