Barcelona demonstrated the mentality of champions to bounce back from an early two-goal deficit and return to the summit of La Liga with a thrashing of Getafe.
The Catalan club were knocked off the top by Atletico Madrid on Saturday night, and seemed set for a miserable weekend when the home side raced into a stunning 2-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes through defenders Sergio Escudero and Lisandro Lopez.
But Pedro then became Barcelona’s hero, compensating for the absence of injured Lionel Messi and suspended Neymar by firing his second league hat-trick of the season to give his team a 3-2 halftime lead.
Cesc Fabregas made the points sure with a quickfire brace midway through the second period, and Tata Martino’s men head into the two-week break delighted with another reassertion of their title credentials.
That scenario looked a long way off in the opening stages at the Coliseum, however, when took the lead with Angel Lafita releasing unmarked full-back Escudero, who raced into the area to score. Amazingly, Barca then again demonstrated their aerial vulnerability and fell two behind, leaving Lopez all alone to run onto a right-wing delivery from Pedro Leon and head past Jose Pinto.
With Atletico fans licking their lips at the tantalising prospect of leading La Liga during the Christmas break, it was time for the reigning champions to provide a response – and they delivered in style with a stunning three-goal burst from Pedro.
The winger got the ball rolling by running onto a delightful through ball from Fabregas to convert, before levelling when he received a pass from Andres Iniesta and thumped a fierce strike past Getafe keeper Miguel Angel Moya. And a remarkable first-half was rounded off just two minutes later, with Pedro completing both his hat-trick and Barca’s comeback by seizing upon a defensive error after a dangerous cross from the marauding Jordi Alba.
Getafe were understandably demoralised, but gathered their composure as the second period wore on and came close to levelling after an hour when Diego Castro fired wide.
Barca needed the comfort of a two-goal advantage, and it was provided when Pedro – who looked offside – escaped into the area to deliver a cross for Fabregas to convert with ease.
And the points were soon wrapped up when the unstoppable Pedro was fouled by Borja, allowing Fabregas to step up and convert from the penalty spot.
