Barcelona opened up a five-point lead at the top of La Liga after a perfect weekend saw them take a 2-1 victory from a tough trip to Getafe, following on the heels of other favourable results including another loss for Real Madrid.
It wasn’t a classic performance from Ernesto Valverde’s men in the suburbs of Madrid but first half goals from – who else? – Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were enough to seal three valuable points which put the Blaugrana in a formidable position.
Let’s review the main talking points from the conclusion of a fabulous weekend for the reigning title holders.
BARCA GET LUCKY
FINAL #GetafeBarça 1-2
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) 6 January 2019
💙 Messi 🤜🤛 Suárez ❤
🔝 ¡La pareja perfecta! 🔝 pic.twitter.com/iRGHGjG23y
Barca really should have fallen behind early on, when an angled left-wing cross from Vitorino Antunes was volleyed home at the far post by unmarked Getafe striker Jaime Mata. But referee Guillermo Cuadra controversially disallowed it, ruling that another home team forward, Angel Rodriguez, had pushed Clement Lenglet as the ball came into the middle.
The ‘push’ looked close to non-existent even on close-up television replays, and there certainly looked to be much less contact than another early incident when visiting midfielder Arturo Vidal appeared to nudge Nemanja Maksimovic as another cross was delivered. But Cuadra strangely refused to use VAR for either incident, so Barca survived with the scoresheet intact and took full advantage when Messi opened the scoring just a few minutes later.
And coming on the same day that nearest rivals Sevilla and Atletico Madrid both dropped points in a 1-1 draw while Real suffered a shocking 2-0 home loss to Real Sociedad – during which they were denied a seemingly clear penalty by another confusing non-use of VAR – the dice are certainly falling Barca’s way in the opening stages of the new year.
MESSI AND SUAREZ MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Despite that let-off Barca still had to go on and win the game, and once again their superstar strike duo of Messi and Suarez did just that with a pair of superbly taken first half strikes which ultimately proved to be enough for the points.
The goals were very different in nature but both required exquisite technique, firstly as Messi ran onto a half-saved shot to convert from a very narrow angle, making it look easy as he ran at full pace to squeeze his shot inside the posts. Then Suarez watched a dropping ball just outside the area and waited patiently before swiveling to thunder a magnificent right-footed volley which flew past Getafe keeper David Soria, completing a one-two punch with his captain.
The gulf in finishing quality was laid bare in the second half, when home team striker Mata embarked upon a mazy dribble which took him past Marc-Andre ter Stegen to create a glorious chance, but he ruined it by awkwardly slicing his shot high and wide.
Messi and Suarez would have almost certainly scored from the same position, and the presence of those two formidable goalscorers is by far the biggest reason for Barca’s comfortable position at the top of the table.
VALVERDE HAS BREATHING ROOM TO ROTATE
The favourable results encountered this weekend have given Barca boss Valverde the perfect opportunity to practise full-scale squad rotation over the course of the next few weeks, which will be packed full of non-stop fixtures assuming his team continues to progress in the Copa del Rey.
Ter Stegen can be relieved at times by Jasper Cillessen in goal; new signing Jeison Murillo (and, when he’s fit, Thomas Vermaelen) can deputise for Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet at the back; Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo can share playing time at right-back; Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic can do likewise in the midfield pivot; Rakitic, Roberto, Arturo Vidal, Carles Alena and Arthur can take turns in midfield; Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Malcom can swap in and out on the wings.
The only players who really cannot be replaced, and will have to play more games than most, are Suarez, Messi and Alba. Barring any moves in the January transfer market – which certainly should be considered in the left-back position, there are no decent back-ups within the squad for any of those players, although Coutinho and Dembele could occasionally both start to relieve one of the front two.
A full-blown rotation policy would be risky and could result in some points being dropped, but Barca have those points to play with and it’s unlikely that either Sevilla or Atletico – and certainly not Real – will string together a long winning run.
Even with 19 games still remaining, the league is now half-won. So Valverde should look further ahead and start planning for the resumption of the Champions League, when he will need his players to be refreshed and focused, rather than tired and jaded. It’s time to be bold and show full faith in the whole squad.
