Barcelona outdo Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez
Getafe 0-2 Barcelona: as it happened
Peeeep peeep peeeep!
That's full time at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, where strikes by Luis Suárez and Júnior Firpo have earned a Lionel Messi-less Barcelona their first away win in all competitions since back in April.
Barça were caused plenty of problems in the first half, but after scoring shortly before and shortly after the break, an immensely challenging afternoon became wholly a easier-going affair for the visitors.
Aside from the pre-match news that Ousmane Dembélé has been added to the Barça injury list, the only major blackmark on a crucial victory for the Catalans was Clément Lenglet's late red card, which will cause the Frenchman to miss next weekend's LaLiga clash with former club Sevilla.
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Cucurella is booked for bringing down Rakitic.
Kenedy clips over a lovely ball onto the head of Molina, but, like Ángel moments before him, the striker can't keep his effort down and it flies over Ter Stegen's crossbar.
Four minutes of time added on. Barcelona are about to end their seven-game winless run on the road, with what is their fourth straight victory in games against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Barcelona have two centre-backs on the pitch once more, as Todibo is brought on for Pérez.
Oh, Ángel! He should score. The corner is played short before being delivered to the back stick, where the Getafe striker has a free header - but nods over from six yards! What a let-off for Barcelona.
Barcelona are preparing to bring on Jean-Clair Todibo.
Kenedy looks to get the ball into the Barça box and wins a corner. It had been a pretty comfy second half for the Blaugrana, but Getafe have clearly been encouraged by their numerical advantage and if they could get a goal now...
Damián Suárez lifts it into the box, where Kenedy draws a smart stop from Ter Stegen with a shot from the back of the area... but the flag was up for offside anway.
Lenglet is off! The Frenchman is late into a challenge on Molina, and receives his second yellow card! Getafe have a free-kick on the right...
Barcelona make a second substition, throwing Ivan Rakitic on for Busquets.
Roberto was booked a few moment ago, I neglected to tell you. I must confess I missed what his exact offence was.
Soria has a 'mare, and Arthur is inches away from making it three! The Getafe keeper's clearance is right at the feet of the Barcelona midfielder. Soria is way out of his goal and, if Arthur can keep his shot on target from 40 yards or so out, he scores. However, the ball drifts just wide.
Barcelona shuffle their pack for the first time, Semedo coming on for Griezmann. The Portuguese will go into his customary right-back berth, with Roberto pushing up into a position further forward, I would imagine.
Getafe make their final change, Francisco Portillo coming on for Jason. Moments later, Arambarri drags a speculative effort wide from 25 yards.
It has been so, so much more comfortable for Barcelona in the second half.
What a pass from Arthur... and what a terrible finish from Carles Pérez! The Brazilian threads a sumptuous ball in between the Getafe defenders and into the young striker's run into the box, but his first-time effort across goal is hooked well off target.
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Not one, but two Getafe players are booked - and the home fans are incensed. Kenedy thinks he's robbed Busquets of the ball and has a chance to charge at the Barcelona defence, but referee Gil Manzano - rightly - deems him to have stamped on the midfielder, and brandishes a yellow. Maksimovic then follows the Brazilian into the book for his complaints.
Suárez for number three... no! Soria may not have covered himself in glory when Júnior doubled Barcelona's lead a few minutes ago, but he does very well to save from the Uruguayan as he held of Djené and scampered in on the Getafe goal. Could so easily have been game, set and match there.
He may not even be the first to do it in Spain this calendar year, but Ter Stegen's assist has seen him make club history.
That is Mata's last involvement in the game, as Bordalás makes a like-for-like substitution, replacing the striker with the veteran Molina, who comes on to roars of encouragement from the home fans.
That's good defending from Lenglet. Kenedy scuttles forward and plays an angled pass towards the box that looks to get Mata into a shooting position, but the Barcelona centre-back is quickly on the scene to win the ball.
Getafe are preparing to bring on Jorge Molina.
In what is his fourth appearance for Barcelona since his summer move from Real Betis, that's Júnior's first goal for the Catalans.
The Coliseum has fallen deathly silent. Getafe had really taken the game to their visitors in the first half... but that all feels rather a long time ago right now.
2-0 to Barcelona! Carles Pérez fires a shot at the Getafe goal that Soria can only parry into the path of the onrushing Júnior, who tucks it away from close range!
Soria won't want to see that one again. "If you're going to push it away, it has to be to the side," tut-tuts co-commentator Axel Torres on Spanish television.
Kenedy is straight into the action, forcing Lenglet into a foul that earns the Frenchman a yellow card.
Getafe have made a change at the break, replacing Nyom with Kenedy, who is on loan at the LaLiga club from Premier League Chelsea.
Peeep! The teams return to the field, and we're back underway.
Marc-André ter Stegen's assist for Luis Suárez is the first by a goalkeeper in LaLiga this season, you will be staggered to learn.
However, stats guru Mister Chip notes that the German is not, in fact, the first keeper to set up a goal in the Spanish top flight this calendar year: that was Athletic Club's Iago Herrerín, who picked up an assist against Celta Vigo in January.
Peeep peeep peeep! That's the end of the first 45 at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, where Barcelona are ahead through Luis Suárez's 40th-minute strike, and as it stands are heading for their first away win since April.
However, Barça's progress into a half-time lead has been far from serene, with Getafe creating plenty of problems for the Blauagrana backline - most notably when only a fantastic Ter Stegen stop prevented Ángel from firing in for Los Azulones.
Getafe win another free-kick on the right - I make it four so far - but Damián Suárez's delivery is easily dealt with by the Barcelona defence.
Two minutes of time added on.
Ufff! Suárez might have had a second. Pérez chases down a ball towards the Getafe byline and cuts it back to his strike partner - but his first-time effort is off target.
It may not have been a comfortable first half for Barcelona, but they're ahead! Suárez lifts an expert finish over Soria!
Ter Stegen is quickly off his line to clear a Getafe punt deep into the Barça half - and not only snuffs out the danger, but produces an assist! His ball over the hosts' backline releases Suárez into the box, and the Uruguayan makes no mistake.
There is a brief pause as VAR checks whether the striker was offside or not, but Bruno looks to be playing him on, and the goal is given!
After that mid-half flurry of chances, it's become a bit scrappy at the Coliseum. Just over five minutes to go in a half that has not been a far from comfortable experience for Barcelona.
Getafe defender Bruno González is the first man into the book after a somewhat robust challenge on Luis Suárez.
This, coupled with the fact that Getafe are unbeaten in their last nine at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, is a stat that hardly makes for encouraging reading for Barcelona.
Now Arambarri fires a shot over the bar! Barcelona might well have scored themselves in this first half, admittedly, but Getafe are causing the visitors real problems in defence.
Júnior is penalised in an aerial challenge with Ángel, and Getafe have yet another free-kick on the right wing. Damián Suárez's low delivery bounces off the Júnior and into the path of Mata... but the Barcelona left-back gets himself in the way and deflects his shot over! The corner comes to nought.
Close! Having almost been behind a moment ago, Barça are not far away from going ahead! Arthur releases Griezmann on the left, the Frenchman carrying the ball to the edge of the box before playing it across to Suárez, who controls, gets it out of his feet - and shoots just wide. Soria was scrambling across his goal.
What a fantastic save that is by Ter Stegen! Getafe should be ahead. Mata receives with his back to goal and plays Ángel into shooting space on the left of the box, but the Barça keeper makes himself big and blocks superbly.
Jason cuts inside and crosses, but Lenglet is perfectly positioned to head clear. First 10 minutes to Getafe, second 10 minutes to Barcelona, I'd say.
Now Suárez goes close! Barça get the Uruguayan in behind Bruno and scampering in on Soria... but his angled finish drifts just wide of the far post! It wouldnt have counted anyway, says referee Jesús Gil, who signals for offside. A quick shufties at the TV replay strongly suggests Suárez was on, though.
And just as I say that, Barcelona have the game's best chance so far! It's all down to the tenacity shown by Carles Pérez. He robs a sleeping Djené on the right before bustling inside into the box and firing low at goal - but too close to Soria!
Ángel fires just over for Getafe! Jason skips down the right and pings a low ball for the striker to hit, but he can't keep it down. The hosts have had the better of the opening 10 minutes or so.
Getafe win a free-kick on the right flank, in exactly the same position as they did right at the start of the game. Damián Suárez stands over it once more, and this time elects not to play it short - but perhaps he should have. His cross into the box is easily gathered by Ter Stegen in the Barça goal.
Júnior looks to slip a low pass into the box for Suárez to run onto, but Djené is there to marshal the into Soria's hands.
Ángel touches it back to Jason to play into the box, but his low delivery is meat and drink for the Barcelona defence. It's all been in the visitors' half so far. Barça are in their rather fetching yellow-with-Blaugrana-sash kit today, incidentally.
Right away, Júnior Firpo gives away a Getafe free-kick that Damián Suárez stands over on the right. He knocks it across to Marc Cucurella to lift into the box... but the Barcelona youth product's ball is overhit, and the chance is lost.
Peeeep! Underway at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez!
Today's match referee is Jesús Gil Manzano, by the way.
Where the teams stand in LaLiga...
It has been three wins from three for Barcelona at the Camp Nou, but last weekend's loss at Granada means the champions have collected just one point from their opening three league matches on the road - and they arrive at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez down in seventh.
After losing to Atlético on the opening weekend, meanwhile, Getafe have been quite the draw specialists, with Wednesday's 3-3 thriller at Valencia their fourth stalemate in their last five in LaLiga. Los Azulones sit 11th, and a win over Barça today would draw them level with their opponents.
Cucurella faces parent club
Marc Cucurella, who is on loan from Barcelona with an end-of-season option to buy, starts for Getafe against his parent club.
Ángel and Bruno in for Getafe
Getafe coach José Bordalás makes two changes to the side that fought back to draw 3-3 with Valencia in midweek: Bruno González comes in for Leandro Cabrera in central defence, and striker Jorge Molina makes way for Ángel Rodríguez.
Getafe team news
Starting line-up: Soria, Suárez, Djené, Bruno, Nyom, Jason, Arambarri, Maksimovic, Cucurella, Mata, Ángel
Substitutes: Chichizola, Portillo, Etxeita, Molina, Fajr, Timor, Kenedy
Carles Pérez comes into Barça attack
With Messi, Dembélé and Ansu Fati all unavailable to Barça boss Ernesto Valverde, youngster Carles Pérez, who this week renewed his deal at the Camp Nou, starts up front with Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suárez.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong returns to the XI and right-back Nelson Semedo drops to the bench, with his position occupied by Sergi Roberto.
Barça's Dembéle ruled out at last minute
The breaking news at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez is that Ousmane Dembélé, who was expected to replace the injured Lionel Messi in Barcelona's line-up today, has himself been struck down by what the club have said is a "muscle problem in his left thigh".
Barcelona team news:
Starting line-up: Ter Stegen, S. Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Júnior, De Jong, Busquets, Arthur, Pérez, Suárez, Griezmann
Substitutes: Neto, Semedo, Rakitic, Todibo, M. Wague, Aleñá, Vidal
Getafe vs Barcelona: buenas tardes a todos
Afternoon!
So, Barcelona are Lionel Messi-less once more as they go to Getafe looking to arrest what has been an alarmingly poor run of recent form on the road.
Ernesto Valverde's men extended their winless away streak to seven games, stretching back to April, when they suffered a surprise defeat to newly-promoted Granada a week ago.
And though they got back to winning ways on Tuesday, maintaining their 100% LaLiga home record by edging Villarreal 2-1, they saw Messi's first start of 2019/20 last just 45 minutes, the Argentine picking up a groin issue that has ruled him out of today's game.
Not only is Messi unavailable for the trip to the outskirts of Madrid, moreover, but exciting young forward Ansu Fati has also been added to Barça's list of casualties - as has Ousmane Dembélé, who was in line to come into the visiting attack but is a last-minute pull-out due to a thigh problem.
On the face of it, then, an away assignment against José Bordalás' physical, uncompromising, well drilled and hugely effective Getafe side, at a stadium where Los Azulones have lost just twice in 2019, is hardly what the doctor ordered for the Blaugrana.
However, Barça are in fact one of the two sides who have managed to win at Getafe this calendar year, and have a very good record at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in recent seasons.
Indeed, their 2-1 victory here in January was their third straight triumph on a ground where they have won six of the last seven, and have lost just once in the past 12 years.
Kick-off is at 16:00 CEST - stand by for team news!
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