Barcelona’s grand curtain-raiser for the La Liga season on Sunday was something however a serene affair as they clashed with Getafe, with the hosts settling for a draw.
Ilkay Gündoğan, the previous Manchester City captain, was within the highlight as he made his La Liga debut donning the colours of Barcelona, however the script was removed from predictable.
The champions had been held to a 0-0 draw, and the battle on the sphere was nothing wanting intense.
Gündoğan, the seasoned German midfielder at 32, launched into a brand new chapter of his profession by becoming a member of the Spanish giants in the summertime.
The expectations had been excessive, and he practically etched his arrival with golden letters as he discovered himself introduced with a splendid alternative to attain inside minutes of the kickoff.
However, regardless of the shot ending up within the palms of the Getafe shot stopper, the flag of offside waved vigorously towards him, leaving his debut purpose nonetheless hanging within the stability.
The match unfolded with a mix of aptitude and pressure, culminating in a sport marked by pink playing cards and an edgy ambiance.
Raphinha, the previous Leeds ahead who now dazzles on the Barcelona frontline, was the protagonist of a fiery trade.
His brilliance threatened Getafe’s protection as he galloped via the best channel, crafting a number of openings.
In the thirty sixth minute, he virtually conjured up a lead for the guests, solely to see his close-range try blocked by goalkeeper David Soria earlier than bouncing agonizingly vast.
But the flames of competitors ignited his feelings, and he let slip his coolness, receiving a pink card within the forty second minute for an off-the-ball elbow to the pinnacle of Getafe’s Gaston Alvarez.
Getafe, too, tasted the bitterness of a numerical drawback as Jaime Mata earned a second yellow card, exiting the stage within the 57th minute for a forceful problem on Ronald Araujo.
With the stability of energy on a tightrope, each groups traded blows.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, the reigning La Liga prime scorer, got here near shifting the narrative, however his close-range header was thwarted by Alvarez’s decided clearance off the road within the 63rd minute.
The normally composed Barca supervisor Xavi discovered himself entangled within the chaos, venting his frustrations towards a choice and receiving a pink card within the 71st minute.
The heated exchanges weren’t restricted to the sphere; they unfold like wildfire to the touchline.
The ultimate moments of added time had been punctuated by VAR intervention, with referee Cesar Soto Grado drawing gazes to the pitchside monitor.
Yet, what appeared like an impending penalty name for a foul on Araujo evaporated into skinny air because the handball declare was waved off.
As the clock ticked, and the stress soared, Barcelona had been left grappling with the fact of a drawn opener.
The clock in added time, creeping near the 20-minute mark, was a testomony to the chaos that ensued.
In the aftermath of the battle, Xavi’s exasperation was palpable. “The referee is the one who allowed it to escalate that far, it is what it is,” he mentioned.
Yet, because the mud settled, there was a glimmer of perspective.
“Last year we started the same way and look how we ended up (as champions),” Xavi mused, a touch of optimism in his phrases. “I’m happy because we played well with 10 men … We had chances but we didn’t manage to take advantage of them.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
