Getafe 0-0 FC Barcelona: Scoreless start at the Coliseum

Barça had done everything and more to warrant victory in this incident-packed game that saw both sides have a man sent off. And just when it looked like time had run out, they had apparently been handed a reprieve thanks to a late penalty. But following a VAR review, it was adjudged that Gavi had actually handled the ball moments earlier and instead the home side was awarded a free kick.

That late drama sums up how frustrating this encounter was, as the Catalans were held to a goalless draw at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez for the third year in a row.

On pure attacking football alone, there is no question which of the two sides deserved to win. But Getafe battled long and hard to keep the blaugrana at bay, and ultimately achieved what they set out to do.

The game also saw the competitive debuts in a Barça jersey for both Ilkay Gündogan and Oriol Romeu.

Raphinha sees red

Getafe had opted to keep the grass long for this one in an attempt to thwart Barça’s slick passing game, and took the same defence first approach that had served them so well against the Catalans in recent years.

And as expected, it was a tough, aggressive encounter from start to finish. The first half produced as many yellow card incidents as it did goalmouth action. But although it was the blue shirts that were generally instigating the physicality, Barça allowed themselves to get dragged into it too, and it was they who ended the half with one man fewer on the field.

Raphinha, whose brilliantly saved point blank effort (followed by a rebound onto the post) was perhaps the clearest chance of the whole game, appeared to elbow Gastón Álvarez and was penalised with the first red card of his career.

Ten against ten

Barça not only weathered that setback, but ten minutes into the second half found they were back playing on level terms.

Jaime Mata was a tad reckless with his challenge on Ronald Araujo, and his second bookable offence meant the game was now ten versus ten.

The narrative had switched again, but the scoreboard had yet to budge. And as the tension rose and the frustration set in, yet another red card was produced, this time for an irate Xavi Hernandez on the touchline.

Tense finale

With Ez Abde looking lively after coming on at half time, and young Ansu Fati and the even younger Lamine Yamal coming on to stir things up towards the end, Barça’s football was looking prettier and more creative as the game drew on.

Getafe, in contrast, looked more than happy to settle for a point, and as Barça's late drive looked more and likely to produce a winner, the home fans roared every time a blue shirt halted the advance and thumped the ball as far away from the home area as possible.

Then in the ninth and final minute of the game, it looked like their was going to a late twist in Barça's favour after Araujo was very clearly kicked in the area. But the expected penalty never came, over-ruled because of what was rather harshly adjudged to be a Gavi handball.

There’s no question that Barça should have taken their chances when they came, but it was nevertheless an agonising end to an agonising game. Ultimately, it was a very hard-earned point, but the team will know that they did more than enough to warrant the full three.

Next week we have the first home fixture of the Liga season. But at a different home to usual. It’s Barça v Cádiz at the Olympic Stadium. Kick off is at 7.30pm CEST on Sunday.