Barcelona got the result they wanted defeating Getafe 2-0 on the day and 6-0 on aggregate as they advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey. The price of the victory might be more than that were willing to pay however as Neymar was forced out with an injured ankle, the severity of which isn't known at the moment.
Getafe vs. Barcelona: Final score 0-2, Neymar injury overshadows Blaugrana victory
Barcelona advanced to the quarterfinals with a big aggregate win over Getafe but they may have lost Neymar to a potentially serious ankle injury.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
Neymar hurt
Neymar has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle tendon and will be re-evaluated on Friday. Possibly because of the 4-0 deficit, Getafe came out extremely aggressive, pressing Barcelona high which is something you typically don't see teams do to the Blaugrana. Considering the situation though, why not take the risk. It didn't stop Barca from generating some good early chances including a wonderful cut back from Neymar to Lionel Messi in the 4th minute that the Argentine rocketed wide of the post.
Barca got another good chance in the 14th minute after youngster Carlos Vigaray brought down Dani Alves on the left edge of the 18-yard box near the touch line. Messi's free kick was headed toward the far post by Marc Batra and fell right to Cristian Tello who shanked his effort well wide.
In the 19th minute Angel Lafita lifted a ball into the Barca box that was flicked on by Sarabia to Juan Rodríguez at the far post. His volleyed shot was blocked by José Manuel Pinto who’d managed to get back across the goal to make the save.
Neymar was forced out the match in the 28th minute after an ugly non-contact injury near the touchline. The Brazilian rolled his right ankle rather severely and was helped off the field by team physios, barely able to put any weight on his leg.
Barcelona were understandably rattled by the injury but still managed to settle down and score a goal before the break.
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In the 44th minute Tello’s low cross into the box was directed in by Messi, apparently off his thigh, past a sprawling Jordi Codina to make it 1-0 on the day, 5-0 on aggregate.
Messi showed of some his amazing brilliance in the 63rd minute to double the Barca lead. He danced past the tackle of one defender, essentially passed the ball to himself to avoid a second before racing around a third and beating Codina with a low shot from a tough angle.
It’s really not fair.
Getafe: Codina, Alexis (Lopez 36’), Rafa, Lago, Vigaray, Rodríguez (Castro 65’), Lafita, Míchel, Lacen, Sarabia (Léon 61’), Colunga
Goals: None
Barcelona: Pinto, Alves, Puyol, Bartra, Adriano, Song, Sergi Roberto, Fàbregas (Xavi 70'), Messi, Neymar (Sánchez 28'), Tello
Goals: Messi (44’, 63’)
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