Barcelona grinded out a hard-earned 2-0 win at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday afternoon — their first victory away at Getafe since 2019. Fermin Lopez broke the deadlock just before half-time and Marcus Rashford sealed it with a clinical counter-attack finish in the 75th minute. The result opens up an 11-point lead over Real Madrid with five games remaining. The title is now within touching distance.
HOW THE GAME PLAYED OUT
The first half went exactly as expected. Getafe sat in a deep 5-4-1 block, played physical football and tried everything to frustrate Flick's side. Dani Olmo and Lewandowski had moments early on, and Roony Bardghji missed a good chance inside the box, but Barca could not find a way through a compact and aggressive defensive structure. It looked like a goalless first half was inevitable. Then Pau Cubarsí stepped up. The 17-year-old won the ball back in midfield, Pedri played a sensational through ball, and Fermin arrived at full speed to tuck a neat finish past David Soria in the 45th minute. A crucial goal at a crucial moment.
The second half was more open. Barcelona controlled possession but missed several good chances — Fermin, Olmo and Gerard Martin all went close. Getafe pushed for an equaliser and had their best moment of the match when Mario Martin fired a shot goalward from close range. Cubarsí was there again — blocking it on the goalline to keep Barcelona ahead. It was the defining moment of the match. Barca immediately broke from the resulting corner, Lewandowski played a perfectly weighted long ball over the top, and Rashford — on as a substitute — drove through at pace and slotted calmly past Soria to make it 2-0 in the 75th minute.
From there Barcelona managed the game comfortably to full time. Flick made further changes — Balde, Araujo and De Jong all coming on — and the three points were never seriously in doubt after the second goal.
LINEUPS
Getafe (5-4-1): Soria; Iglesias, Boselli, Duarte, Djene, Davinchi; Birmancevic, Milla, Arambarri, Mario Martin; Satriano.
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsí, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Bardghji, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski. Subs used: Rashford (for Bardghji), Araujo (for Kounde), De Jong (for Gavi), Balde (for Fermin).
THE NUMBERS
Barcelona: 61% possession. Getafe: 39%. Cubarsí: 2 key defensive interventions — midfield ball recovery for the first goal, goalline block before the counter for the second. Rashford: came on, scored, won it. Fermin: 8.5 match rating. Cubarsí: 8.7.
WHAT IT MEANS
Barcelona are 11 points clear of Real Madrid with five games left. Madrid have five games remaining too, meaning the title could be confirmed as early as next weekend. If Madrid drop points at Espanyol on May 3, and Barca beat Valencia at Camp Nou the same day, the title is theirs. The El Clasico on May 10 at Camp Nou could be the coronation. Barcelona could even be champions before then. Nine consecutive league wins. Back-to-back titles incoming.
