Getafe ensured their La Liga survival with a 0-0 draw against an hugely underwhelming Barcelona on Sunday night.
Barça have nothing left to play for this season aside from personal pride and their performance had a real end-of-season feel to it. In truth, neither side ever looked like breaking the deadlock and it was a mercy when referee Jesus Gil brought proceedings to an end at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
The first half was almost a non-event from the visitors’ perspective. Barcelona sorely lacked urgency in possession and Getafe were more than happy to sit back and soak up pressure.
If any team looked like opening the scoring, it was the hosts. The relegation-threatened Azulones caused the Barça defence particular issues from set pieces, while Enes Unal forced a rare save out of Marc-Andre ter Stegen just before the interval.
In contrast, the away side mustered just two attempts on goal, the first of which did not come until the 41st minute. Neither effort came close to breaking the deadlock either.
Barcelona’s limp attacking play continued in the early stages of the second half with Ferran Torres dinking a weak chip straight at David Soria. Enes Unal let a half-chance go begging for Getafe soon after before the game entered a scarcely-believable lull.
After a break of 23 minutes, Torres at last registered an attempt on goal – and of course, it was easily blocked by Getafe. Nine minutes from time the ball fell kindly to Alejandro Balde, and he smashed a wild effort well over.
This would prove to be the last goalmouth action of a truly turgid game. Xavi will be hoping for a much better display from his side when the curtain comes down on their season against Villarreal in seven days time.
Here is how the Barcelona player ratings…
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) – 5/10 – Got away with a shaky moment on the stroke on of half time. Very quiet evening for him overall.
Dani Alves (RB) – 6/10 – Spotless defensively. His side needed more of his directness when they were on the attack.
Oscar Mingueza (CB) – 7/10 – Showed his recovery pace on more than one occasion, making a couple of seriously important interceptions.
Clement Lenglet (CB) – 5/10 – Booked in the first half for clipping Borja Mayoral late. A few shaky moments at the back and routinely beaten in the air.
Alejandro Balde (LB) – 6/10 – Given a rare start and looked absolutely fine. Could do with being a little braver in the final third.
Gavi (CM) – 5/10 – Carried the ball nicely but did not have enough magic in his boots to unlock Getafe’s low block.
Sergio Busquets (CM) – 5/10 – Even he, usually so unflappable, was a bit loose in his passing. Booked for a clumsy foul.
Riqui Puig (CM) – 4/10 – Some of the positions he took up were interesting and probably unhelpful for his side as a whole.
Ferran Torres (RW) – 3/10 – Did not cover himself in glory in the first half when he should have been staking a claim for a first-team spot. Needs to improve next season or he simply won’t play.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 3/10 – Made a couple of smart runs but was largely hamstrung by the Getafe defence.
Memphis Depay (LW) – 3/10 – Decision making was pretty poor throughout. Let his frustrations boil over when Getafe kicked him out of the game. Indicated for a sub in the second half after a knock to his knee.
SUB: Ansu Fati (LW) – 6/10 – Looked brighter than a lot of his teammates on the ball.
SUB: Luuk de Jong (ST) – 5/10 .
