Coliseum Alfonso Perez. August 13. 32 degrees. And the rocky and defensive Getafe de Bordalás, enemy number one of the teams that, like Barcelona, like to pamper the ball, waiting eagerly to despair of one of their favorite rivals. Like boiling broths in the middle of summer, the menu to inaugurate the defense of the league title could not have been longer (25 minutes added) and expensive to digest. (0-0). And Barça fell squarely into the trap. For the fourth year in a row, he did not fit in but he did not score in a match in which there was anything but football.
The Blaugrana team was left with 10 after the expulsion of Raphinha and the VAR incomprehensibly did not indicate a clear penalty from Iglesias on Araújo. Even the output of Lamine Yamal did not work. The best thing about the game is that Xavi's men, who was also sent off, can already cross off the visit to a field that is like a stone in the shoe. Running away from a product that, as the coach stated, was anything but football.
Xavi took it very seriously. He lined up his best eleven at least to date. The transfer market has not yet ended and the coach wants to finish propping up the squad. Especially the always ailing right back. Having Koundé and Araújo, two category center-backs swapping their positions with Christensen to cover Barcelona's great pending issue, is not a tasteful dish. The same as having Balde still with a record of the subsidiary occupying the left-handed side. The Barcelona coach sat down Gavi to show off Gündogan, the fourth midfielder. Oriol Romeu also came out, registered at the last minute. He danced again with Frenkie de Jong. Something less with Pedri, located in the upper part of the famous square in theory to support Raphinha and Lewandowski. But he cost him. As everyone.
Bordalás, faithful to the style that puts possession and the tikitaka in doubt, opted for a back line populated with five defenders, as was to be expected. He did not hide his cards from the Madrid team that every time Barcelona tried to attack, they responded with timid free kicks but fouls nonetheless. Especially skilled in this area was Damián Suárez, moving like a fish in water with underground pipes and actions that in some cases deserved the yellow card. He did not see her until 82 due to a grab on Abde.
But it was Gündogan who suffered especially with Damián. He received an elbow to the stomach that kept him lying down for several minutes. Before, well assisted by Lewandowski, the new Blaugrana signing dared with the first kick forcing David Soria to intervene. The action was previously invalidated due to Raphinha's offside. Getafe responded with Latasa and Mata in attack. Koundé corrected his own mistake well by making his body serve to prevent Latasa, about to charge the shot with his left leg, from shooting at will from the penalty spot.
The little participation of Pedri in the root of the square took its toll on Barça, which at no time was comfortable with Getafe's hostile game. Even Aleñá, trained at La Masia, but who has just started his fourth season at Getafe, used his arms more than his feet. The ex-canterano did see the yellow card for pushing Raphinha. Also Mitrovic for stopping another individual action by the Brazilian, without a doubt the most outstanding footballer of Barça. The Brazilian had tested himself with a free-kick that hit the long post of the Soria goal and then with a good clearance after an excellent pass from Koundé.
Then he fell into the trap. He exploded in minute 42. Incomprehensibly he released his arm before Gastón, who he left lying on the ground and the referee did not hesitate to show him the direct red. In the midst of such chaos only Oriol Romeu put some football with a kick that was too crossed. The first half ended with a header from Aleñá from the penalty spot with no Blaugrana defender nearby. Luckily for Ter Stegen, the ball went high.
To make up for Raphinha's loss, Xavi reinforced the attack with Abde open on the left flank. Frenkie de Jong infiltrated the defense of four and the sacrificed was Christensen. The squads were balanced when Mata saw the second yellow card after taking Araújo ahead while he advanced on the right wing. These changes also helped Pedri, who began to appear to combine well with Abde. The shot from the Moroccan winger went high. Djené reacted with a foul on the Moroccan winger and Xavi exploded. The coach finished his debut expelled.
Òscar Hernández took charge of the matter. Following his brother's plan, he called Lamine Yamal. The secret weapon of 16 years. Gavi also came out, who received a blow to the face from Choco Lozano, and Ansu Fati. The 10 tried but his kick was also too high. Bordalás asked the Coliseum to cheer in the final moments. The noisy Getafe fans responded. There was one last foul by Iglesias on Araújo who hurt his right ankle. A penalty that the VAR reviewed but that it did not consider due to an alleged and more controversial previous hand by Gavi. Precisely the youth player prevented Portu's goal in a counter. He is already. It's over. Luckily, the League is long. Luckily, not all games will be like this.
