Primera División, clash between Getafe fc and Barcelona fc

 

HALF TIME - Getafe 0-0 Barcelona: It has not been the most exciting game in Madrid, but the hosts are making it difficult for Luis Enrique's men which has made for an intriguing encounter. The best chance of the game came the way of Lafita, but he was denied by a great stop from Bravo. It remains all square at the interval, so be sure to join me for the second half in 15 minutes.

• 45'

  There is barely a second of added time before the referee whistles for the end of the half.
• 43'

  Messi comes deep to pick up the ball, and once in possession he attempts to initiate a one-two with Suarez. Upon receiving the return pass, though, he is unable to bundle his way into the box in order to test the keeper.
• 41'

  Rakitic tries his luck with an effort from 25 yards but it skids a few feet wide of the goal! Guaita dived anyway, but that was never sneaking inside the post.
• 40'

  Suarez turns Alexis brilliantly and then cuts back inside him to create space for a cross. He picks out Xavi at the near post but the midfielder's attempt to flick the ball in with his trailing leg loops up for Guaita to make the save.
• 38'

  Barca nearly show Getafe how to be clinical on the counterattack! The hosts are caught short at the back and Suarez bends a cross into the middle which is only narrowly missed by Pedro. That was a great opportunity!
• 37'

  We are closing in on half time, and the hosts have given this game a good shot so far. They've looked dangerous on the break, but they could do with getting Yoda more involved down the right.
• 35'

  Sammir is leading the line for Getafe today, and he seems to be adopting the false nine role that Messi made famous at Barcelona. He is dropping deep to get on the ball, holding it well and using his quality distribution to spread the play and ignite counterattacks.
• 33'

  WHAT A SAVE! Alexis releases Lafita down the left with a brilliant ball over the top and the winger cuts inside of Alves with ease with his first touch. He carries it into the box before lashing a shot at goal which is just kept out of the corner by the fingertips of Bravo!
• 32'

  Suarez and Alba try to combine down the left but the left-back leaves the ball behind him with his first touch and Getafe manage to hack it clear. Yoda tries to use his pace to break away down the right but there is no support to get on the end of his cross.
• 30'

  Velazquez makes an important block! The centre-back was in the right place at the right time to stop Messi's shot from just inside the box testing Guaita. The Barcelona man's first touch there was superb.
• 28'

  Jordi Alba is adjudged offside, even though he was a good few yards behind the last Getafe defender. That was a poor decision from the official on the near side.
• 27'

  Alves tries to juggle the ball and loop it over the head of Lafita, but the attacking midfielder gets between the Brazilian and possession. In his desire to stop him breaking, the right-back pulls his opponent to ground and concedes a free kick near the halfway line.
• 26'

  OVER THE TOP! Suarez breaks away down the left and pops a nice pass back to Xavi, 25 yards from goal. He smashes his shot goalwards but fails to keep it down!
• 24'

  Pique is penalised for an off-the-ball push on Sarabia, with the referee awarding the free kick. The centre-back gives the official, who has made a few odd decisions already, a peace of his mind. Getafe fail to make anything from their delivery into the box.
• 22'

  Claims for penalties at both ends! First, Barcelona are denied a penalty for what they feel has a handball by Valera, and they may have had a point. Getafe break, though, and Lafita claims his cross takes a touch off the hand of Alves inside the box. Neither given!
• 20'

  SUAREZ! Guaita punches a cross out only as far as Xavi at the top of the box, and his shot appears to be heading wide. However, the Uruguayan stretches to try and deflect the shot into the back of the net but is unable to divert it on target.
• 18'

  MESSI! The Argentine is quickest to react as Rakitic's deflected shot drops inside the box. He pokes it away from the defender and then fires a low shot too close to Guaita and the keeper holds it confidently. It was a rather tame effort.
• 16'

  Once more Lacen is caught in possession in midfield, and Messi picks it up and bears down on goal. He slides a pass to his left for Pedro, but the winger is blocked off as he looks to cut back onto his right foot in order to have a shot.
• 14'

  Lacen loses out to Messi and Suarez pounces on the loose ball. He dribbles sideways into the centre of the pitch before blazing a shot from 25 yards far over the top of the goal!
• 13'

  Neither side have yet to force a save from the opposition goalkeeper just yet, as it has been a rather slow start to proceedings. Getafe are defended in two solid lines with every man back behind the ball.
• 11'

  Lafita feels he should have a free kick after knocking the ball past Pique and then taking a light brush off the centre-back as he tries to surge into the box. Contact was minimal, and you sense he only claimed for it because there was no way he was getting back in possession given his touch!
• 9'

  Pique launches a long diagonal ball from the halfway line, looking to set Messi in behind the defence. Valera does well to get his head to it before Velazquez hooks it away to safety.
• 7'

  Messi swings in a free kick from the left after Suarez was fouled, but the delivery is poor and Lafita heads it away at the near post.
• 5'

  Getafe are clearly happy to let Barca control possession and just look to catch them on the break. Once more Lafita is there outlet down the left but he is beaten to the ball by Bravo, and the keeper just about manages to stop himself running out of the box with possession in his hands!
• 3'

  Barca have seen plenty of the ball in the opening stages, but Mathieu's attempt to combine with Xavi down the left are thwarted. The hosts counter, but Lafita is unable to make the most of the ball when he is released down the left.