[MATCH REPORT] Getafe 1-2 Barça: Super subs do the job

In the Madrid afternoon sunshine, Barça were made to work hard at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, but their class told in the end, substitutes Denis Suárez and Paulinho ensuring their perfect start to the season continued.

The last time that the Blaugrana had lost at this stadium was back in 2011 and the visitors began in a confident manner, using the full width of the pitch to stretch the play at every opportunity.

However, a congested midfield and robust defending from Getafe, meant that Ernesto Valverde’s team wouldn’t have it all their own way.

Unlucky Dembélé

In the opening quarter hour, Getafe’s Molina came closest to opening the scoring for the hosts, though Barça remained well in control of possession. At the opposite end, Ousmane Dembélé showed his continued understanding of the particular style of play that Barça adopt by getting into good positions and showing his speed when given space to run into.

Unfortunately, his afternoon was destined to end before the half hour mark, a slight twinge to his hamstring enough for the player himself and Valverde not to take any chances.

On his 100th appearance for Barça, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was equal to everything that Getafe had thrown at him until he was given no chance with Gaku Shibasaki’s 39th-minute volley. A great save by Guaita from a Leo Messi free-kick right on half-time, saw no change to the score going into the break.

Suárez stunner

At the beginning of the second half, the pattern continued with Barça manipulating possession for long periods of play but whenever a chance presented itself for the Blaugrana, José Bordalás’ side surrounded the ball in numbers making a clear site of goal difficult for the visitors.

Staying on the front foot throughout, Barça equalised on 62 minutes thanks to a superb top corner effort from Denis Suárez. The youngster, a half-time sub for Andrés Iniesta, controlled the ball with his first touch before expertly drilling it past a despairing dive from Guaita.  

Decisive Paulinho

As the game became more open during the latter stages, Getafe were content to sit back and hit long balls over the top. Solid throughout, Samuel Umtiti came into his own and was equal to the host’s attacking thrust on each occasion that they threatened.

Paulinho replaced Ivan Rakitić with 13 left to play and just a few minutes after his arrival, a strong run into the box from the Brazilian saw him one on one with Guaita after a slide-rule assist from Messi, the summer signing making no mistake with an accomplished finish.

Barça are back in action again on Tuesday, September 19, when Eibar are the visitors to the Camp Nou, kick-off 10.00pm CET.