Getafe and Barcelona Play Out Controversial LaLiga Season Opener: Match Report
In a match marred by red cards and contentious moments, Getafe and Barcelona battled to a hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to kick off the 23/24 LaLiga season.
The game proved to be a frustrating affair for both teams, as they struggled to find their rhythm in the opening stages. The visitors, Barcelona, experienced a sense of déjà vu as they replicated their opening day result from the previous year, where they also ended in a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano. History repeated itself in more ways than one, as just like last season, Barcelona’s defensive midfielder, Sergio Busquets, received a red card for an aggressive challenge. This time, it was Brazilian winger Raphinha who faced an early exit after elbowing Getafe defender Gastón Álvarez in the face.
Getafe, too, did not emerge unscathed from the physical contest, accumulating 20 fouls, 6 yellow cards, and seeing forward Jaime Mata receive his marching orders with a second yellow card. The sheer intensity of the challenges seemed to unnerve both the Blaugrana and their manager Xavi, who was subsequently ejected from the sidelines during the 70th minute. Xavi’s dismissal followed his vehement protests to the second official, after a tackle on Abde Ezzalzouli went unpunished by the referee, inciting Xavi’s frustration.
Xavi exiting the pitch following his red card for protesting to the second official for a challenge on Abde Ezzalzouli. Credit: Sara Gordon/FC Barcelona.
The first half saw moments of promise amidst the scrappy play. Oriol Romeu’s effort in the 25th minute narrowly missed the target, while a well-timed over-the-top pass from Jules Koundé found Raphinha in a threatening position, though the chance failed to materialise into a goal. However, Raphinha’s match took a downturn when he was shown a straight red card in the 40th minute for an elbow on Getafe’s Gastón Álvarez, leaving Barcelona with 10 men for the remainder of the encounter.
Getafe’s strategy of unsettling the visitors with their robust play paid off, and their two blocks of 5-4 made it a challenging task for Xavi’s team to break through. The second half saw further developments as both teams remained down to 10 men after Jaime Mata’s second yellow card reduced Getafe to parity in numbers.
As the game wore on, substitutions came into play, with both sides making tactical adjustments. Getafe introduced fresh legs in the 63rd minute, while Xavi’s decision to bring on Abde injected more attacking impetus for Barcelona following Raphinha’s departure.
The climax of the match was reached with a flurry of events in the final quarter. A promising opportunity for Barcelona materialised in the 80th minute when Lamine Yamal delivered a precise pass over the top to Ansu Fati, but the latter failed to connect properly with his half-volley. The drama was far from over, as a staggering 14 minutes of added time were allocated due to late-game penalty claims.
In the 105th minute, controversy again reared its head. An apparent foul on Araujo was revisited through VAR, which ultimately led the referee to rule a handball by Gavi in a preceding play. Adding to the tumult, Juan Iglesias engaged in physical altercations with both Araujo and Gavi during that sequence of play, further escalating tensions on the pitch.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were left without a breakthrough, and the 0-0 scoreline reflected the tumultuous nature of the match. Barcelona, now without the services of both their head coach and the dismissed Raphina, face a challenging task in their next fixture against Cadiz. Meanwhile, Getafe will seek to build on their spirited performance when they visit Girona. The Coliseum Alfonso Pérez witnessed a contest marked by controversy, intensity, and glimpses of skill as LaLiga’s new season began with a hard-fought draw.
