Barcelona moved 11 points clear in the La Liga title race following a 2-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday. The win leaves the defending champions on the brink of securing their second consecutive Spanish title with only five games remaining in the season.
Goals from Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford secured the win at Getafe's home ground. The result follows a Friday draw for second-place Real Madrid against Real Betis, which significantly dented the Madrid side's championship hopes, according to aljerna.com.
Barcelona's path to the trophy remains clear but not yet finalized. Hansi Flick’s side can clinch the title if they defeat Osasuna next weekend and Real Madrid fails to beat Espanyol.
"It’s not done, we have five more games, and we’re only focused on the next one," Flick told reporters following the match. "We will celebrate when it’s time, but not now."
Clinical performance despite missing stars
Barcelona entered the match without influential wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha due to injury. Despite the absences, Flick’s side managed to navigate a difficult tactical setup from Getafe manager Jose Bordalas.
Fermin Lopez, playing with a protective mask after a collision in the Champions League, scored the opening goal just before halftime. Pedri provided the assist for the midfielder, who celebrated by imitating Yamal’s signature "304" gesture.
Lopez noted the difficulty of the match, stating to Movistar that the team was aware of the challenges ahead. "We were aware of what was going to happen here, we were going to have few chances, and I think we played well, competing well defensively and putting away the chances we had," Lopez said.
Getafe attempted to disrupt Barcelona's rhythm with frequent small fouls, limiting the visitors' ability to create clear-cut opportunities. Dani Olmo missed an early chance with a shot that drifted wide of the far post after a driving run into the Getafe territory.
Barcelona increased their pressure after the break, with Jules Kounde and Dani Olmo both seeing efforts go narrowly wide. The deadlock was finally broken by Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan from Manchester United.
Robert Lewandowski set the England international on goal, allowing Rashford to slip a low shot past Getafe goalkeeper David Soria. Flick praised the substitute's impact, noting that Rashford used the space provided by the Getafe defense effectively.
"Marcus, in the second half, he came on and used the space they gave us. I’m happy that we scored this goal for the team and also for him," Flick said.
Getafe goalkeeper David Soria expressed frustration at his team's inability to capitalize on their defensive moments. "They were very efficient, you give away two chances, and they score them both," Soria said.
Lopez added that while the team holds a significant advantage, they cannot afford to lose focus. "We know we’ve got a big advantage in the title race, but even so, we can’t relax, I know it’s a cliche, but it’s the truth," the midfielder said.
