FC Barcelona – Getafe: A splendid morning for Barça (6-1)

Barcelona (FCB).- With the Camp Nou basking in the winter sunshine and the Barça players performing at their effervescent best, one of the biggest attendances of the season – including many youngsters - couldn’t fail to enjoy the first morning kick-off seen here for several decades.  Barça put the result beyond doubt inside of thirteen minutes.   In the absence of midfield maestro Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Leo Messi directed a free-flowing Barça attack while assistant coach Jordi Roura was able to rest some of his overstretched players.  The goals came from all four forwards plus Iniesta and Piqué, with Getafe scoring a consolation goal in the 83^rd minute.

Early goal from Alexis

Barça looked sharp from the beginning; an exhilarating blend of strength, pressure, pace and precision. Alexis, who featured in the starting line-up alongside Villa, opened the scoring after just six minutes thanks to a fantastic through ball from Iniesta. It was the Chilean international’s first league goal of the season. Iniesta and Thiago then combined to set up Leo Messi after 13 minutes, and the Argentine’s left foot shot flew into the bottom right corner.

Total control

Barça were in complete control, with their trademark brand of patient passing football, to the despair of the Getafe players. In the 31^st minute, Alexis Sánchez crossed to the centre of the box for Messi to hit the right-hand post with a left footed shot. Then it was Jordi Alba’s turn to supply Villa, but the Spanish international’s effort went wide. There was time before the break for Alexis to set up Thiago, but his shot was blocked.

Villa makes it three

In the second half, Alves replaced Adriano.  Barça continued to dominate and it was no surprise when Villa made it 3-0 in the 58^th minute after a brilliant through ball from Alba. This followed a double effort from Messi and Alexis, both blocked with some difficulty by the Getafe defence. Not surprisingly, the pace of the Barça onslaught slackened a little after the third goal but the team remained solid at the back and fully focussed.

Festival of football
But Messi hadn’t said his final word. In the 78^th minute he set up Tello – who had come on in place of Alexis just 5 minutes earlier – and the winger fired past Getafe goalkeeper Codina into the bottom right-hand corner. Álvaro scored a consolation effort for the visitors as the fans celebrated with a Mexican wave but this only goaded Barça into hitting back with two more goals by Iniesta and Piqué.