Barcelona show title intent with win over Getafe

Photo by Sergio Ruiz / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport

Three points is all that matters

In this final La Liga sprint, only the three points matters. Nothing more.

Beautiful football can be saved for another day, though there was some of that on show against Getafe in Thursday night’s encounter.

Given Jose Bordalas’ record against Barca was poor, a win was expected, but as so often happens, that narrative can seep into player’s minds and complacency often sets in.

At 3-2, for a short period at least, Getafe had opportunities to draw level and make the game much more difficult than it needed to be.

Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

Ronald Koeman certainly let Oscar Mingueza know his feelings in the second half, and though the coach has smoothed over that particular incident, it will be interesting to see how that plays out given the youngster has been a sterling performer in 2020/21 for the most part.

In many respects, Thursday’s encounter was the proverbial game of two halves.

The hosts looked so much better in the first 45 than the second, and perhaps Koeman can look at himself and his substitutes as a possible reason why things turned after the break.

The Dutchman clearly thought the game was well won but by taking the foot off of the pedal and allowing Getafe that second wind, the game became much more uncomfortable than it needed to be.

Thankfully, from a Barca perspective, a late rally ensured the three points went the way of the blaugranes.

When this season is looked back on, and with any luck it’ll be another title-winning campaign, there’ll not be too many furrowed brows over the performance.

The three points needed to be won however they came. History won’t care how they arrived.

The end of La Liga is going to be good fun pic.twitter.com/13vRn9Cxdu

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 22, 2021

Of the remaining games, only Atletico Madrid and potentially Levante are likely to play with anything resembling a low block, making the game more narrow and therefore not to Barca’s advantage necessarily.

All of the others will allow Koeman’s team to play which has always worked more in their favour. That’s not to say that all seven ‘finals’ will be won of course.

In any event, the challenge is there and everyone connected with the club is acutely aware what it is.

Win all of those remaining games and it makes no difference what any of the other teams alongside Barca do because they will be champions.

After what’s been a god-awful season for any number of reasons, foregoing the ‘Barca way’ for a few weeks in order to help secure another La Liga isn’t the worst crime in the world.

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