Barcelona picked up a 5-2 win over Getafe at home in the Spanish League earlier tonight.
The win takes Ronald Koeman’ side up to third in the League table with a game in hand. They can overtake Real Madrid in the second place if they manage to win their next match.
Getafe were very clear with their game plan from the start. The visitors played with a back six throughout the game with the intention of nullifying the Barcelona attack. They managed to draw against Real Madrid with a similar approach last time out.
The away side sat deep for most of the game, but they struggled to contain an in-form Lionel Messi.
The Argentine star scored an outstanding opening goal, but the visitors were lucky to get back into the contest thanks to an own goal from Clement Lenglet.
Having scored the equaliser, Getafe continued to defend in numbers, and Barcelona were struggling to get through their resistance. However, the home side were gifted the lead once again after an own goal from Sofiane Chakla, and Barcelona looked composed and dangerous in attack after that.
Sustained pressure led to Lionel Messi scoring his second of the game to put Barcelona ahead once again.
Araujo scored the fourth goal of the game for Barcelona on the 87th minute, and Antoine Griezmann wrapped up the scoring from the penalty spot deep into injury time.
Second half substitution from Ronald Koeman
The Barcelona manager decided to rest the likes of Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet for this weekend’s game, and his decision to take them off at half time unsettled the Barcelona defence.
Frenkie De Jong was asked to play as a centre back, and his removal from the midfield meant that Barcelona struggled to control possession.
The Spanish giants struggled in the final third because of that, and Getafe’s deep defensive line made it difficult for them to create clear cut opportunities.
Barcelona were lucky to score towards the end of the game through a corner. Araujo’s goal managed to put daylight between Barcelona and the opposition.
Lionel Messi, the star of the show
The Argentine superstar has been in inspired form since the turn of the year, and he was instrumental in Barcelona’s win tonight.
Messi managed to score a special brace for himself, and he did well to create the goal for Araujo from the corner.
Barcelona could be just two points adrift of the League leaders if they win their next game. They are very much in the title race. Lionel Messi will be crucial to their title aspirations, and it remains to be seen if the Argentine can carry on performing at a high level until the end of the season.
Messi has scored 25+ goals in his last consecutive seasons in Top European League. Cristiano Ronaldo is the other player to achieve the same feat.
Messi needed one more goal for a hat trick but instead decided to give the penalty to Griezmann
