Barcelona player ratings as Yerry Mina gets 7 on first start but Luis Suarez disappoints

David Cooper - Writer 21:58 11/02/2018
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  • Barcelona endured a rare off day as they drew a blank in a 0-0 stalemate with Getafe at the Nou Camp.

    The visitors stood firm to take an unlikely point away from Catalonia, having become the first side to prevent Barcelona from mustering a shot on target at home in the first half since Real Madrid in April 2012.

    The gap is down to seven points at the top of La Liga after second-placed Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Malaga. It’s not over yet…

    Some of the ratings are not pretty for Barca’s attacking players but there was, at least, a clean sheet for Yerry Mina on his first start.

    RATINGS

    Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Dangerously strayed off his line at one point in the second half but Shibasaki shot high and wide. Had a watching brief for much of the match. 6

    Sergi Roberto – Very little penetration came down the right flank, although he did not have much support except for Mina’s forays, and until Ousmane Dembele came on. Solid enough defensively. 6

    Yerry Mina – Though he’ll face sterner challengers this was a confident-looking performance. Unafraid to come forward and could even have scored from either of two fine headed chances. A little out of position at times, and played Angel onside for one of Getafe’s only chances. But his pace is a vital asset. 7

    Lucas Digne – With Barca playing a high line due to their domination, Digne’s lack of pace was glaring on the rare occasion that Getafe were allowed to break. Happy to let Mina take possession and drive forward, and thankfully for Barca, this was not a game in which he was pressed into action too much. 6

    Jordi Alba  As willing as ever to provide width on the left but his crossing were finding too many luminous shirts. His patterns of play can be predictable – too often he was forcing the ball to Lionel Messi. 6

    Sergio Busquets – His 300th La Liga game in a Blaugrana shirt did not produce any highlight-reel moments from midfield, but Busquets is a high-ceiling player and kept Barca ticking over before being replaced by Paulinho 10 minutes from full-time. 6

    Ivan Rakitic – A mixed bag – landed one pass in Suarez’s lap at one point in the first half, but at other times his passing radar was uncharacteristically off. 6

    Paco Alcacer – Yanked for Dembele in the 63rd minute and was clearly not on the same wavelength as his more illustrious team-mates. 5

    Philippe Coutinho – Clearly still adapting to life at the Nou Camp – went missing for large swathes of the game, and his usual roaming role – as he performed at Liverpool – is occupied by Messi at Barcelona. Did go close in 58th minute with dipping shot that drew a good save from Guaita. 5

    Luis Suarez – The linesmen wore themselves out continuously flagging Suarez for offside. The Uruguayan’s red-hot form took an ice bath against Getafe, as even the times he managed to avoid the flag’s attention, his finishing was off. Had a headed chance tipped over in injury-time. 4

    Lionel Messi  Was at his exquisite best – minus the goals. Was hacked to pieces as he tried to conjure up something on his own but, despite the 300m plus of attacking talent around him at one point in the game, no one gave the Argentinian a helping hand. 8

    SUBSTITUTES

    Andres Iniesta – His superglue dribbling nearly carved out chance for Dembele, effective as ever when operating from the left. 7

    Ousmane Dembele – Lacks that Barca stamp of composure and fell over his feet a couple of times. But the ball seemed drawn to him and he looked like he could make something happen – same couldn’t be said for Alcacer or Coutinho. 6

    Paulinho – Had little time to make a mark and arguably should have entered the fray earlier. N/A

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