Barcelona's La Liga struggles continued on Saturday evening, as the Catalan outfit were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe at Estadio Coliseum.
Jules Kounde sent Hansi Flick's side ahead in the ninth minute of the contest, but Getafe were level in the 34th minute through Mauro Arambarri, and neither team could find a third goal in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona have now taken just two points from their last four league matches and have been victorious in just one of their last eight in Spain's top flight; they sit third in the La Liga table, five points behind the champions Atletico Madrid and four from second-placed Real Madrid, who now have a game in hand.
As for Getafe, an eighth draw of the season was enough to move them one spot into 16th, with the Deep Blue Ones now one point clear of the relegation zone, which is occupied by Espanyol, Real Valladolid and Valencia.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
Atletico's shock defeat at Leganes, which ended a 15-game winning run in all competitions, opened the door for Barcelona to move to within three points of the division leaders, but this will go down as an opportunity missed.
Starting with a front four of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona should have had more than enough quality to overcome Getafe, but the hosts, for all their issues this term, are excellent defensively, boasting the third-best defensive record in the division heading into Saturday night's encounter.
Goals have been an issue for them, though, managing only 14 in Spain's top flight, but one on Saturday earned them a point.
Barcelona are in an excellent position in the Champions League and have just won the Spanish Super Cup and advanced in the Copa del Rey, but their La Liga struggles are a real concern.
The Catalan giants are now without an away success over Getafe since September 2019, meanwhile, and Flick must find a way to get the team going in Spain's top flight or it could be a very frustrating league season.
GETAFE VS. BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
9th min: Getafe 1-1 Barcelona (Jules Kounde)
Barcelona make the breakthrough in the ninth minute of the contest, as Kounde collects a pass from Pedri before managing to bundle the ball into the back of the net - it is really scrappy, but the visitors have the lead.
34th min: Getafe 1-1 Barcelona (Mauro Arambarri)
All square! Getafe are on terms against Barcelona, with Arambarri turning into the back of the net after Inaki Pena had made a flying save to keep out a volley from Coba - another untidy goal here, but Getafe will not mind.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JULES KOUNDE
© Iconsport
Getafe defended brilliantly as a team, with Domingos Duarte and Omar Alderete deserving huge praise, but Barcelona's Kounde was the best player on the pitch on Saturday night, and he was unfortunate not to be a part of a winning team.
Kounde made the breakthrough in the early stages of the first period, while he made two tackles and won one aerial battle, in addition to completing 25 of his 34 passes, including two key passes.
GETAFE VS. BARCELONA MATCH STATS
Possession: Getafe 22%-78% Barcelona
Shots: Getafe 9-21 Barcelona
Shots on target: Getafe 4-5 Barcelona
Corners: Getafe 2-10 Barcelona
Fouls: Getafe 9-9 Barcelona
BEST STATS
9 - #Barcelona 🔵🔴 have conceded at least one goal in each of their last nine @LaLiga games, their worst run in the competition since an 11-game run between September and November 2018 under Ernesto Valverde. Trend. pic.twitter.com/ctgXCngzJH
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 18, 2025
3 - Since 2007/08, David Soria is the third @LaLigaEn player to make an error that ends in a goal in both games of the season against #Barcelona, after Dudu Aouate in 2012/13 and Zouhair Feddal in 2017/18. Panic. pic.twitter.com/etAhiFtNDZ
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 18, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Barcelona's attention will now switch to the Champions League, with the Catalan giants heading to Portugal on Tuesday evening to tackle Benfica; Flick's side are currently second in the overall table, three points behind the leaders Liverpool.
The Catalan side will then be back in La Liga action against Valencia on January 26, while Getafe will continue their domestic campaign with a trip to Real Sociedad on the same day.
Matt Law
