Barcelona welcomed struggling Getafe to Camp Nou on Saturday looking to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga and continue their long unbeaten run in the process.
Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty for the home side, but an own-goal from Juan Rodriguez and strikes from Munir El-Haddadi, Neymar and Messi saw the Catalan outfit lead 4-0 at the break.
Neymar then completed his brace in the second period, while Arda Turan was also on the scoresheet as Barcelona stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 37 matches.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Getafe. Luis Enrique's side stretched their unbeaten run to 36 games in all competitions with a 4-0 win over Eibar last weekend and another victory this afternoon would see them open up an 11-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid at the top of the table. Indeed, they are the overwhelming favourites to record another three points against a Getafe side that are without a win in eight league games.
Barcelona have not lost any of their last 11 home league games with Getafe – recording eight wins in the process. What's more, Getafe have not found the back of the net in their last three league games with the Catalan outfit. The corresponding fixture last term ended in a 6-0 Barcelona win and Enrique's side also recorded a 2-0 victory when the pair met in Madid earlier this season.
What's more, Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 21 La Liga matches at Camp Nou – winning 18 times in the process. Getafe, on the other hand, have won just one of their last 17 away games in the league and have not scored in their previous three. Barcelona's unbeaten run has to come to an end at some point, but today? Not for me! Right, time for the team news from Camp Nou...
TEAMS:
BARCA: Bravo; Vidal, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Roberto, Turan, Iniesta; Neymar, Munir, Messi
GETAFE: Guaita; Buendia, Vergini, Velazquez, Pereira; Yoda, Juan, Wanderson, Medran; Leon; Scepovic
Barcelona welcome back Neymar from a one-game suspension, but Luis Suarez has been left on the bench with one eye on the Champions League clash with Arsenal next week. Ivan Rakitic and Dani Alves are also given rests - allowing Aleix Vidal and Sergi Roberto to come into the middle of the park. Sergio Busquets has been left out of the squad altogether amid a busy run of matches.
As for Getafe, Juan Cala, Pablo Sarabia and Alvaro Vasquez are all missing through suspension, which has opened up spots in the team for Santiago Vergini, Pedro Leon and Stefan Scepovic. Alvaro Medran and Karim Yoda both keep their spots in the team, while Alvaro Pereira comes into a back four that also includes nineteen-year-old Emiliano Buendia, who is primarily an attacker.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are around 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon in Barcelona. I shall speak about struggling Getafe a little bit later, but let's start with the home team, who are still on this incredible unbeaten run, which stretches back to the start of October, when they lost 2-1 at Sevilla in the league. When on earth are they going to be beaten?!
Since that reverse at Sevilla, Barcelona have played 36 times in all competitions and have not been beaten. That stunning run of form has seen them make the Copa del Rey final, win the Club World Cup, make the knockout round of the Champions League and open up a healthy lead at the top of the table. In truth, only a major collapse will stop Barcelona from winning another league title.
Barcelona have actually won their last 11 games in the league, including a 4-0 victory over Eibar last weekend. As it stands, Enrique's side sit eight points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid and 12 clear of Real Madrid. The fact that Barcelona could open up a 15-point lead over Real Madrid following this match is just incredible. That will not go down very well at the Bernabeu at all!
Last weekend's clash with Eibar also saw Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar make it 100 goals between them in all competitions this season. To put that into context, only two teams in the top five European leagues have scored more goals collectively. Neymar actually missed the Eibar match through suspension, but Munir El-Haddadi came in and also found the back of the net.
In terms of what is to come, next up for Barcelona is the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash with Arsenal on Wednesday. The Spanish giants lead 2-0 from the first leg in London and it would therefore be a major shock if they did not progress to the final eight once again. Would it actually be that much of a surprise if Barcelona managed to win another treble? Not really!
Barcelona's next two in the league, however, are very interesting indeed. On March 20, they will travel to a very impressive Villarreal team, before welcoming Real Madrid to Camp Nou at the start of April. You sense that points could be dropped in those games and that might allow Atletico a route back into the title race. It is a long shot, but football has a funny way of throwing up surprises!
As for Getafe, Escriba's side are without a win in their last eight league matches, which has seen them drop into 16th and now just one point outside of the bottom three. They are dangerously sliding at the moment, but will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Sevilla last weekend.
Before that, however, Getafe had been thumped 4-0 at Las Palmas and also lost to Celta Vigo, Levante and Atletico Madrid without scoring. In fact, Escriba's side have not collected all the points in a league match since January 17, when they beat Espanyol 3-1. That result was the end of an excellent run of form and they have been slipping towards the bottom three ever since.
Getafe's away form this season has also been very worrying. They have only collected five points from their 13 games on the road – recording just one win in the process. Add in the fact that Barcelona have the best home record – winning 13 of their 14 matches – and it is very difficult to imagine a surprise occurring here. Kickoff is fast approaching at Camp Nou this afternoon.
Getafe's full squad for this afternoon...
PREDICTION! I am finding it very difficult to make a case for Getafe this afternoon. The visitors are on a rotten run of form and I expect Barcelona to win this comfortably. Barcelona 4-0 for me.
A reminder of the two teams at Camp Nou...
BARCA: Bravo; Vidal, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Roberto, Turan, Iniesta; Neymar, Munir, Messi
GETAFE: Guaita; Buendia, Vergini, Velazquez, Pereira; Yoda, Juan, Wanderson, Medran; Leon; Scepovic
KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Barcelona's unbeaten run is going to end at some point, but surely not today? It is a massive ask for Getafe at Camp Nou. Right, it is the away side that get the action underway here...
... as expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with Pique and Mathieu seeing plenty of the ball thus far. You just get the feeling that Getafe will need to get through the opening 10, 15 minutes without conceding if they are to stand a chance of securing a positive result. Buendia has been nice and bright from right-back early on here.
Barcelona are just going through the motions early on as they continue to move the ball from left to right and look for those pockets in the final third. Getafe are sitting very, very deep at the moment.
Getafe are almost 3-4-3 at times here, but that quickly becomes six at the back when Barcelona attempt to quicken the pace. Vidal has had a couple of chances to deliver from a wide position, but Vergini and Medran take it in turns to clear the danger. Not an awful lot to report at the moment.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they look to find a gap in the final third. Messi delivers one of his trademark curling passes towards the far post, but Guaita manages to collect ahead of Neymar.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Getafe (Rodriguez OG)
Barcelona take the lead in the eighth minute as Juan Rodriguez turns a low Jordi Alba cross past his own goalkeeper at the far post. Good build-up from the hosts and they've been rewarded!
PENALTY BARCELONA!
BOOKING! Velasquez (Getafe) is booked as he brings Munir to the ground inside the penalty box. A disastrous couple of moments for the visitors and Messi will take the spot kick...
... SAVE! Guaita gets down to keep out Messi's spot kick!
Barcelona might be the best team in the world, but they really cannot take penalties. It is quite incredible. That said, a second goal does not seem too far away as they continue to utterly dominate possession of the ball. Getafe just cannot seem to get out of their own half here!
Barcelona have a free kick in a dangerous area as Vergini brings Neymar to the ground...
... Messi's free kick sails well over the crossbar. All one-way traffic at the moment.
Getafe have managed to ease the pressure for the last 60 seconds or so with a period of possession, but Barcelona break away through Neymar once again and threaten to catch the visitors on the counter. This could genuinely be anything that Barcelona want it to be here.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Getafe (Munir)
Barcelona have their second of the match as Munir heads a super Messi cross past Guaita form close range. Not sure about the defending from Getafe, but it was smart movement all round!
Getafe just cannot get in the game at the moment as Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the final third. It is almost like a training match at the moment and Getafe have the look of a team that have lost seven of their last eight in the league. This could be six or seven this afternoon.
Munir has now scored six goals in his last six games for Barcelona. Who needs Suarez? That is obviously a joke, but the point is that Munir is really grasping his opportunities at the moment.
Quite a strong penalty shout for Barcelona as Neymar tumbles inside the Getafe box under a challenge from Leon, but the referee is not interested. Yep, looked like one to me.
This match, unfortunately, is the type of game that brings criticism of La Liga. The gulf between the two teams is just staggering. Getafe have not had a shot on target thus far and in truth, have hardly been in the home side's half. Barcelona are playing so comfortably in first gear here.
Just a reminder that a win for Barcelona this afternoon would take them 11 points clear of second-place Atletico and 15 points clear of third-place Real Madrid. Getafe just cannot deal with Barcelona down the left and Alba comes so close to finding Messi with another low cross.
CROSSBAR! Not only do Barcelona like missing penalties, they also like hitting the crossbar. The woodwork is hit this time by Pique, whose poked effort is deflected onto the crossbar!
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Getafe (Neymar)
Barcelona have their third of the match as Messi sweeps a low pass into Neymar, who finishes into the opposite corner with a wonderful flick of the left foot. Too easy for the home side here.
Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining and in truth, it has not been an entertaining game. Sure Barcelona have played some nice stuff, but Getafe have been nowhere!
It must be a lot of fun to play in this Barcelona team. Iniesta and Turan play a remarkable one-two in close proximity, but the return pass is just too strong and Getafe have a goal kick. You sense that Barcelona, if they wanted, could win this game by seven or eight, which is not good for the league.
CLOSE! Almost 4-0 Barcelona as Messi delivers a stunning pass towards the far post, but Neymar can only poke wide from close range. The vision from Messi was out of this world!
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Getafe (Messi)
It is indeed four for Barcelona as Messi rifles one into the bottom corner from outside the box. You have to feel for Getafe, who are just so far out of their depth at Camp Nou this afternoon.
BOOKING! Medran (Getafe) is booked for a late challenge on Neymar.
Messi curls another free kick over the crossbar much to Guaita's relief!
I suspect that Arsenal have scouts at this match ahead of next week's Champions League clash and I do not think that Arsene Wenger will want to hear how it is going at the moment!
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 4-0 Getafe
So there we have it. The referee puts Getafe out of their misery in this first period as he blows his whistle with the visitors 4-0 behind at Camp Nou. An own-goal from Juan Rodriguez started it off, before Munir, Neymar and Messi all added their names to the scoresheet. Barcelona have also missed a penalty this afternoon and a couple of good chances - it could be six or seven here!
STATISTICS! Barcelona have utterly dominated the possession with 77%, while they have had nine attempts - five of which were on target. Getafe, on the other hand, have not managed a single attempt thus far. Two bookings to report - Velazquez and Medran for the visitors.
BENCH WATCH! Barcelona boss Luis Enrique might look to rest a couple of his players ahead of the Arsenal match next week and he has the likes of Bartra, Rakitic, Samper and Vermaelen on his bench this afternoon, while Suarez might also fancy a run-out in the second period! Getafe, meanwhile, have Moi Gomez and Bernard Mensah as their attacking options here.
MATCH PIC!
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Getafe keep the score down here? We shall find out! Barcelona resume the action at Camp Nou...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not all that surprising, but I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind for the second period. Both with a view to resting players!
Yoda attempts to dance into the Barcelona box as Getafe enjoy a rare venture up-field, but Pique is on hand to clear up, before Yoda fires wide of Bravo's post. At least there was some intent there!
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Barcelona to make it 5-0 as Messi sets up Turan inside the box, but the Turkish international gets it all wrong and screws his effort wide!
BOOKING! Leon (Getafe) is booked for a tug on Mathieu.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-0 Getafe (Neymar)
Barcelona make it 5-0 in the 51st minute as Messi again slides a super pass into Neymar, who takes one touch before placing his effort into the bottom corner. Those two are at it again!
Whether Getafe can survive this season was never going to depend on the result this afternoon, but it cannot be healthy to be absolutely blown away. Two chances are going to be made...
... GETAFE SUBS! Stefan and Leon are replaced by Victor Rodriguez and Moi Gomez.
Little over 30 minutes of this La Liga clash remaining and Barcelona could go on and score seven or eight if they fancy it, but they might decide to have a little bit of mercy on Getafe here!
GOAL! Barcelona 6-0 Getafe (Turan)
Six for Barcelona as Turan produces a clever bicycle kick at the far post!
BARCELONA SUBS! Samper and Vermaelen replace Mathieu and Iniesta.
I am not sure if I can watch this any longer. I want to throw the towel in for Getafe! They have only had one shot in this whole game and that was a pretty poor effort from Yoda truth be told.
Messi embarks on another driving run and looks to find the opposite corner with a low strike, but his effort was always moving just wide of the post. Still more than 25 minutes to play here.
Wanderson breaks forward for Getafe and decides to try his luck from outside the box, but his effort was always too high. Still no shot on target for the visitors with 66 minutes played.
Getafe have started to open up in the last few minutes, but it is a little bit late for that! Finally they have a shot on target through Moi Gomez, but it is straight into the arms of Bravo.
BARCELONA SUB! Bartra replaces Pique in Barcelona's final change.
CLOSE! Getafe come very close to a consolation as Moi Gomez strikes one towards the bottom corner from a wide angle, but his effort just misses the post!
Little over 15 minutes of this match remaining and it is much more of a contest at the moment as Getafe continue to commit players in the final third. Much more entertaining it must be said.
Just a reminder that this win for Barcelona is going to take them 11 points clear at the top of La Liga, which is incredible at this stage of the season. It will also leave Getafe just outside the bottom three in 16th. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals here as well!
GETAFE SUB! Wanderson is replaced by Mensah in Getafe's final change.
Very comfortable for Barcelona at the moment as they continue to pass and probe in the final third. Turan wants too much time inside the Getafe box and Moi Gomez is back to pick his pocket.
Neymar attempts to chip Guaita following another super passing move, but it is comfortable for the Getafe goalkeeper, who collects and immediately looks to release Mensah down the field.
SAVE! Super stop from Guaita as the stopper keeps out Neymar's close-range strike!
Yoda, who has been Getafe's best player in the second period, spins inside the Barcelona box and his strike is just deflected wide of the post. The Frenchman has had a good game this afternoon.
There is no question that Getafe have improved in the second period, but that is more down to Barcelona taking their foot off the gas, which is not surprising with a six-goal lead.
Getafe again threaten as Mensah shows excellent feet to drive past Vidal in a tight area, but Bravo is on hand to block behind. Mensah and Yoda have been excellent in the last five, 10 minutes.
Just the two additional minutes to be played at Camp Nou.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 6-0 Getafe
So there we have it. Barcelona thump Getafe 6-0 at Camp Nou to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga and make it 37 games unbeaten in all competitions. Getafe's miserable run continues as they battle to stay in the league. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
