Barcelona cruise past Getafe to stay perfect at the top of La Liga

Barcelona made light work of Getafe, winning 3-0 at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday to move to 24 points and remain top of La Liga.

Anthony Gordon gave the hosts the ideal start, opening the scoring inside two minutes. Gabriel Jesus doubled Barcelona’s advantage in the 30th minute, before Jules Kounde completed the victory with 17 minutes remaining.

The result leaves Getafe 13th on eight points.

Barcelona immediately took control, using quick vertical passing to test a compact Getafe defence. Javi, Rodri and Gerard looked to play through the middle, while Dani Olmo moved between the lines to create space.

Lamine Yamal found it more difficult to make progress on the right, with two or three Getafe players regularly assigned to track him. Their close attention, however, created room elsewhere, and Kounde was able to move forward into the spaces available.

Xavi Espart also operated more like a midfielder than a conventional full-back, as he has done on previous occasions.

Barcelona’s opener arrived when Gordon cut in from the left through a crowded defensive line. His shot lacked power but struck the defender Martin and changed direction, leaving goalkeeper David Soria unable to prevent it from finding the net.

The hosts continued to search for openings in tight areas, repeatedly attempting to break through with passes played behind the defence. Jesus began his move on the left and kept looking for an opportunity to shoot before finding one. His effort caught Soria moving the wrong way and finished inside the far side of the goal.

Yamal creates Kounde’s goal

Getafe showed greater ambition after the interval and briefly threatened when Mojica’s effort from the left went just wide, clipping the outside of the net.

Barcelona remained composed and gradually forced the visitors back towards their own half. Rodri dictated the tempo, repeatedly taking up good positions and directing the movement of his team-mates.

One attack saw Xavi Espart burst towards the edge of the Getafe penalty area after receiving a through ball from Dani Olmo. His shot was straight at Soria, who made the save.

The third goal came from the right. Yamal delivered an inviting cross towards the far post, where Kounde had advanced from deep. The defender got the touch needed to redirect the ball into the net and put the result beyond doubt.

Yamal had an opportunity to add a fourth himself when he met a cross from Adeyemi, but he sent his effort wide from a relatively straightforward position.

Barcelona saw out the remainder of the match comfortably to secure a routine home victory, while Getafe left Spotify Camp Nou with their points total unchanged at eight.