FC Barcelona struggled to win against Getafe (16th) by 1-0, but they earn three very important points to consolidate their leadership in LaLiga and put pressure on Real Madrid, who closes the Sunday session at San Mames.
Young Pedri Gonzalez was the author of the only goal in a match where Getafe deserved more in the second half, even having several opportunities to have taken at least one point from Camp Nou.
Thanks to this victory, Barcelona reaches 44 points, six more than Real Madrid, who will play against Athletic in Bilbao (20:00 GMT)
Getafe started off scaring, with a goal from Borja Mayoral that was disallowed due to offside of the 'azulon' forward (3).
Without playing an outstanding game, Barcelona gained control of the match and took advantage of an error in the opponent's ball clearance to open the scoring with a cross from the left by the Brazilian Raphinha, which was finished into the net by Pedri, playing as a center forward position (35).
The Canary Islands midfielder came close to causing another goal, but for Getafe, as he took a risk in a pass to Marc Andre ter Stegen, leaving Mayoral alone in front of the German goalkeeper, who won the one-on-one (41).
As is happening in many matches this season, the team coached by Xavi Hernandez, the recent winner of the Spanish Super Cup a week ago (defeating Real Madrid 3-1), took a step back and let Getafe come closer to a dangerous equalizer.
Borja Mayoral came close to achieving it shortly after returning from the dressing rooms with a shot that Ter Stegen sent out for a corner kick (47), and the forward developed in Real Madrid had another clear opportunity in a header that went wide (74).
Minutes before, Barcelona could have made things even more complicated if the referee of the match had considered a red card instead of just a caution for Ousmane Dembele's tackle on Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete (68).
Getafe tried until the end and could have taken a point with a header in stoppage time from Juanmi Latasa, but Ter Stegen saved it to give the victory to his team (90+3).
AFP.
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