Barcelona held by Getafe in feisty conflict with three purple playing cards

Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, centre, challenges for the ball through the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe and FC Barcelona on the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Spain
| Photo Credit: AP

Barcelona endured a irritating night of their LaLiga season opener with a 0-0 attract a feisty affair at Getafe marked by a number of bookings and three purple playing cards on Sunday, together with the dismissal of visiting supervisor Xavi Hernandez.

Champions Barca had been dominating the match early on beneath the scorching warmth of south Madrid, with Brazil winger Raphinha the principle risk to the house facet’s defence by working the fitting channel and creating a number of alternatives.

He nearly helped the guests open the scoring within the thirty sixth minute when goalkeeper David Soria blocked his close-range strike again onto a staff mate and the ball bounced simply extensive.

But Raphinha misplaced his cool and was despatched off within the forty second minute for elbowing Gaston Alvarez within the head off the ball.

Getafe had been then additionally decreased to 10 males within the 57th minute after Jaime Mata’s fierce problem on Ronald Araujo earned him a second yellow card leaving the match extensive open.

Last season’s LaLiga prime scorer Robert Lewandowski got here closest for Barcelona with a close-range header which Alvarez managed to clear off the road within the 63rd minute.

Barca supervisor Xavi was additionally proven a purple card within the 71st minute after complaining a few determination.

There was extra controversy in added time when referee Cesar Soto Grado didn’t award what regarded like a penalty for a foul on Araujo and after being requested by VAR to verify the pitchside monitor signalled a handball within the build-up.

After added time nearing 20 minutes and far complaining, Barca needed to accept some extent. The final time they managed to win a LaLiga sport at Coliseum Alfonso Perez was in 2019. Since then they’ve had three 0-0 attracts and a 1-0 defeat at Getafe.

“The referee is the one who allowed it escalate that far, it is what it is,” a visibly pissed off Xavi instructed DAZN.

“I told him that he was allowing too many [fouls] and that’s why he kicked me out. And I don’t see a handball in the last play,” he added referring to the VAR verify that dominated out a potential penalty.

“It is also a shame that he gave 20 minutes in added time. We are making fools of ourselves, it’s ridiculous.”

“Last year we started the same way and look how we ended up [as champions]. I’m happy because we played well with 10-men … We had chances but we didn’t manage to take advantage of them.”