Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, centre, challenges for the ball throughout the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe and FC Barcelona on the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Spain
| Picture Credit score: AP
Barcelona endured a irritating night of their LaLiga season opener with a 0-0 attract a feisty affair at Getafe marked by a number of bookings and three pink playing cards on Sunday, together with the dismissal of visiting supervisor Xavi Hernandez.
Champions Barca had been dominating the match early on below the scorching warmth of south Madrid, with Brazil winger Raphinha the primary risk to the house aspect’s defence by operating the best channel and creating a number of alternatives.
He nearly helped the guests open the scoring within the thirty sixth minute when goalkeeper David Soria blocked his close-range strike again onto a group mate and the ball bounced simply vast.
However Raphinha misplaced his cool and was despatched off within the forty second minute for elbowing Gaston Alvarez within the head off the ball.
Getafe had been then additionally diminished to 10 males within the 57th minute after Jaime Mata’s fierce problem on Ronald Araujo earned him a second yellow card leaving the match vast open.
Final season’s LaLiga prime scorer Robert Lewandowski got here closest for Barcelona with a close-range header which Alvarez managed to clear off the road within the 63rd minute.
Barca supervisor Xavi was additionally proven a pink card within the 71st minute after complaining a couple of choice.
There was extra controversy in added time when referee Cesar Soto Grado didn’t award what seemed like a penalty for a foul on Araujo and after being requested by VAR to verify the pitchside monitor signalled a handball within the build-up.
After added time nearing 20 minutes and far complaining, Barca needed to accept a degree. The final time they managed to win a LaLiga recreation at Coliseum Alfonso Perez was in 2019. Since then they’ve had three 0-0 attracts and a 1-0 defeat at Getafe.
“The referee is the one who allowed it escalate that far, it’s what it’s,” a visibly pissed off Xavi advised DAZN.
“I advised him that he was permitting too many [fouls] and that is why he kicked me out. And I do not see a handball within the final play,” he added referring to the VAR verify that dominated out a doable penalty.
“It’s also a disgrace that he gave 20 minutes in added time. We’re making fools of ourselves, it is ridiculous.”
“Final 12 months we began the identical approach and look how we ended up [as champions]. I am completely happy as a result of we performed effectively with 10-men … We had probabilities however we did not handle to benefit from them.”