Barcelona's title hopes are all but finished after a 2-2 draw against Getafe at the Camp Nou on Saturday. Barca appeared to have the match won after a goal from Alexis Sánchez midway through the second half, but a stoppage time header by Ángel Lafita earned a vital point for Getafe, and likely ended Barca's chances of catching Atlético Madrid.
Barcelona vs. Getafe: Final score 2-2, Barca’s title hopes are on the ropes
Barcelona’s title hopes are nearly done after Getafe earned a draw with a stoppage time equalizer.
Getafe held on as long as they could, but in the 24th minute their defense was finally eroded by the near constant pressure from Barca. Xavi found Dani Alves out wide to the right, and the fullback wasted no time crossing back into the box where Lionel Messi was waiting to direct the ball up and over the shoulder of Julio César to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
In the 38th minute, Getafe equalized when Lafita brought down a free kick inside the Barca box, turned and fired a low shot past José Manuel Pinto. For reasons only know to the linesman, he waved his flag for a foul, sending the Getafe players into a tizzy. After a couple confusing minutes, the lead official overruled the linesman, counted the goal, and the match was tied at 1-1.
The Barca pressure continued in the second half, but for awhile Getafe stood strong, keeping the match tied as the Blaugrana’s frustration grew.
Finally in the 67th minute, Getafe's defense broke and Barca re-took the lead. Pedro's initial short range shot in the box was blocked, but it took a Barca-friendly bounce right to Alexis Sánchez who gladly fired it past Julio César to make it 2-1.
Just when it looked like Barca would survive, Getafe found an equalizer two minutes into stoppage time. Again it was Lafita who did the damage, taking advantage of some poor defending in the box by Barcelona. Jaime Gavilán found Lafita with a long cross from the left, after the Getafe midfielder was allowed to run into the box completely unmarked. Lafita rose up and headed the ball past a diving Pinto, making it 2-2.
Barcelona: Pinto, Dani Alves, Bartra, Mascherano (Fàbregas 66’), Adriano, Busquets, Xavi (Song 87’), Iniesta, Alexis, Messi, Pedro (Tello 90’)
Goals: Messi (24’), Sánchez (67’)
Getafe: Julio César, Valera, Alexis, Rafa, Escudero, Lacen (Michel 86’), Rodríguez, Lafita, Sarabia, Sammir (Mosquera 68’), Colunga (Gavilán 45’)
Goals: Lafita (38’, 92’)
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