A subdued Barcelona couldn’t break down Getafe in a 0-0 draw on Sunday, dropping extra factors however nonetheless sitting 11 away from Real Madrid on the high of La Liga.
Third-place Atletico Madrid beat Almeria 2-1 at house with Antoine Griezmann netting a brace as he continued his glowing kind.
Champions Madrid beat Cadiz on Saturday to chop again Barcelona’s lead, and with 9 video games remaining it appears extremely unlikely they’ll catch Barcelona — however Xavi Hernandez’s facet are limping over the road.
Barcelona drew 0-0 at house in opposition to Girona on Monday and adopted that up with a second consecutive stalemate, the staff nonetheless wallowing after their Copa del Rey semi-final thrashing by Madrid earlier in April.
The one optimistic for Barca was a twenty second clear sheet of the season within the high flight, with Getafe, fifteenth, not creating a lot hazard.
“Here you endure, as a result of the grass is excessive, the standard methods, so it’s onerous, the clear probabilities you’ve — it’s a must to put them away,” Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen informed DAZN.
“It’s a dry pitch, so it’s difficult. We did things differently to normal, it’s a point which isn’t good but it’s a point we’re adding, obviously.”
Xavi echoed Ter Stegen’s grievance that the low high quality of the pitch performed an element within the outcome, however mentioned Barca couldn’t conceal behind it.
“It’s not an excuse, we weren’t correct, we made probabilities however we couldn’t end them,” said Xavi.
“But yes, the grass did hurt us, the ball didn’t run.”
The coach mentioned he was not apprehensive about Barca not discovering the online in three consecutive video games throughout all competitions.
“That can occur, and it’s additionally been some time since we let in targets,” added Xavi.
“It’s a very tough place to go, Getafe have a lot at stake, when they sit deep it’s very hard, they are organised at the back.”
– No approach by –
After a gradual begin, the Catalans created the primary clear probability on the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, when Raphinha raced on to an extended ball and fired in opposition to the put up.
The rebound fell to Balde, however with the objective gaping, fumbled an effort which struck the identical upright.
Sergi Roberto pulled up injured, seemingly with a hamstring situation, including to Barcelona’s lengthy listing of absentees.
The league leaders have badly missed explosive winger Ousmane Dembele and artistic midfielder Pedri in current weeks.
David Soria saved nicely to maintain out a Robert Lewandowski header simply earlier than the break.
Lewandowski nodded narrowly huge from an Alba cross earlier than Soria made one other strong cease from a rasping Raphinha effort.
Getafe have been content material with the purpose, sitting again as Barcelona probed for a breakthrough, though Borja Mayoral nearly snatched a winner for the hosts on the break.
Barcelona are nonetheless agency favourites to carry the title for the primary time since 2019, however ought to they stumble at house in opposition to Atletico subsequent weekend, doubts might creep in.
Getafe are provisionally 4 factors away from the drop zone, earlier than Valencia, 18th, face Sevilla later Sunday.
– Griezmann targets –
Atletico stayed two factors behind Real Madrid with a slender win over Almeria, seventeenth, which ought to have been extra snug than it proved to be.
Antoine Griezmann headed Atletico forward within the fifth minute when Angel Correa nodded on a nook to the again put up.
Fans on the Metropolitano gave Correa an ovation within the tenth minute, in his first look after the demise of his mom final week.
Diego Simeone’s facet have been dominant all through, however Almeria pulled stage when Leo Baptistao’s shot deflected in off Jose Gimenez.
Griezmann despatched the Rojiblancos forward once more earlier than the break, ending clinically from Yannick Carrasco’s move on the finish of a positive staff transfer for his eleventh league objective.
Carrasco and Griezmann each hit the put up within the second half as Atletico regarded to kill the sport.
They couldn’t discover the third and Almeria gave Atletico just a few scares within the closing levels, interesting for a penalty when Gimenez dealt with however VAR confirmed there was an offside.
Girona, ninth, beat bottom-of-the-table Elche 2-0, leaving the stragglers 17 factors from security.
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