FC Barcelona sweep aside Getafe

37 games

Luis Enrique’s side extended their unbeaten run to 37 games in all competitions with a comfortable victory over struggling Getafe. The leaders moved 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who were playing at home to RC Deportivo later on Saturday. Getafe were a point above the bottom three in 16th.

Own-goal and penalty miss

Barcelona left their leading scorer Luis Suarez on the bench and Munir El Haddadi started in his place but it failed to unsettle Luis Enrique’s side, who tore into the hosts. Jordi Alba crossed low into the area for Juan Rodriguez to turn the ball into his own net and the floodgates opened. But not before Vicente Guaita guessed right to save a penalty from Leo Messi.

11: Messi misses a penalty! - Neymar brought down in the box but Guaita pulls off an excellent save #FCBGetafe #FCBlive (1-0)

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 12, 2016

Munir and Neymar

Messi quickly made up for his error. Andres Iniesta lifted a ball into the area after 20 minutes and the Argentine volleyed across the face of the goal, where Munir dived to head in his third Liga BBVA goal of the season. Messi then set up the third as well, as he slipped a ball into the area for Neymar, and the Brazilian stroked a shot wide of Guaita.

Messi

The World Player of the Year created the fourth on his own, spinning away from his marker and blasting a shot inside the post from the edge of the area, to send Barça in at the break leading 4-0, with two other chances having hit the woodwork. There was little respite for Getafe in the second half as they looked to break a poor run of form, where they had scored only one goal in seven outings, in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Sevilla.

GOALLLL! Arda makes it 6-0 with an acrobatic finish #FCBGetafe #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/W5MnugrZSu

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 12, 2016

Neymar and Arda

Six minutes after the restart, Messi once again found Neymar with a precise pass slicing through the Getafe defence. The Brazilian burst into the area and finished into the corner to make it 5-0, his second of the game, taking him on to 20 for the season. The sixth came as a corner was flicked on to the back post. Gerard Pique hoisted it into the air, and Arda Turan netted with an impressive overhead kick.