Barcelona beat Getafe

Getafe 0-2 Barcelona

Barcelona won at Getafe on Saturday at the opening of the second stage of the La Liga

The match started at a slow pace, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the game in the opening few minutes.

Getafe were the better side at the first half and could have broken the deadlock in the 12th

minute, when Albin’s left-foot volley from outside the area caromed off the underside of the bar.

Barcelona tried to respond but they were finding it very hard to create any danger, despite Jeffren’s attempts down the flanks.

The home side struck the woodwork for a second time 28 minutes into the game, when a pinpoint cross from Pedro Leon from the right was met by Soldado’s overhead kick, which hit the left post.

The Catalan club produced a solid chance for the first time in the match two minutes later through Seydou Keita, who was given far too much room in the middle of the pitch and went for glory from 30 yards out, but his effort went slightly wide of the left post.

Barcelona wasted their best chance on goal in the 43rd minute as Jeffren’s good cross from the right found Ibrahimovic, who did well to control the ball and get past the opposition of Rafa but the Swede’s low shot was held by Ustari.

The second period began with Barcelona introducing Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta but it was from Xavi’s feet that their first chance came from, when the diminutive midfielder fired a long ball from distance that Ustari had to divert over the bar.

Barcelona would find the back of the net on 65 minutes, when Abidal’s cross from the left found Ibrahimovic at the near post, and the striker had only to use the tip of his boot to send it past Ustari.

And it would not take long for the treble-winning side to double their lead, as on 79 minutes Daniel Alves connected well with Ibrahimovic, who clipped the ball into the six-yard box for Messi to head home.

Despite their two-goal lead, Barcelona refused to take their foot back off the gas and Ibrahimovic almost scored his second of the game after being put through by Xavi but his shot went straight into the hands of the Getafe keeper.

It was a totally deserved win for Barca, who controlled the match in the second period. The Catalan club have moved up to first in the table and have yet to concede any goals after two games played.

This win it’s a great gift to Abidal who turns thirty yesterday

Happy 30th birthday Abidal!