Oscar Mingueza was the only positive as Barcelona get halted to a goalless draw by Getafe this weekend.
Barcelona seal the runner-up position in this season’s La Liga thanks to a goalless draw with Getafe on Sunday. While the draw might not have been enough to mathematically confirm the second spot, the Catalans were aided by Atletico Madrid’s draw with Sevilla.
Coming into this game on the back of an injury crisis, Barcelona did not enjoy the best of proceedings. They started the game slowly, with Getafe showing much more ambition going forward and keeping the Barca defenders on their toes throughout the first half.
With Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri ruled out for the encounter, Barcelona struggled to create opportunities despite boasting a star-studded attacking lineup. They mustered a total of just one shot on target in the entire game, leading to very little to no action for Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.
But the Catalans deserve some credit for keeping things neat and tidy at the back, despite being decimated by the absence of Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo and Sergino Dest. And here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over these Barcelona players in their hard-fought draw with Getafe this past weekend.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen: 6/10
With Getafe making a few headways into the final third, Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to remain alert between the sticks, especially in the first quarter of the game. But he was not asked to make any extraordinary saves, with the opposition mustering only three shots on target. A relatively easy clean sheet for the Barcelona number one.
Dani Alves: 7/10
Dani Alves fared rather well on the right-hand side. He was solid enough to deal with the pressure of the Getafe wide players and did not allow the opposition to overwhelm him on the flanks. The veteran offered nothing special in possession but kept things neat and tidy.
Oscar Mingueza: 8/10
Mingueza is proving that CB is his position and not RB, what a game he's having
— VISCA EL BARCA ?✌️??????? (@froyston_) May 15, 2022
Oscar Mingueza was tasked to replace Ronald Araujo at the heart of the Barcelona backline. The youngster did not disappoint either, producing a defensive masterclass alongside his defensive partner. He was almost faultless in defence, keeping the likes of Borja Mayoral quiet throughout the ninety minutes.
Clement Lenglet: 7/10
Clement Lenglet was not as convincing as Mingueza in the Barcelona backline. He had some issues dealing with the threat of Enes Unal, but on a broader picture, he performed much better than what was expected of him. His contributions helped Barcelona walk away with a clean sheet and seal second place in La Liga.
Alejandro Balde: 7.5/10
Alejandro Balde was handed a rare start in the absence of Jordi Alba and Sergino Dest. The youngster raised a few eyebrows with his electric pace down the flanks. He put a rather impressive display for a player so young and could be a vital piece of the Barcelona setup in the coming season.
Xavi: "Alejandro Baldé was great today. He was good in the attack and showed his character." pic.twitter.com/BJEo3rI1Nt
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) May 15, 2022
Sergio Busquets: 6.5/10
Sergio Busquets made his return to the starting eleven after being suspended against Celta Vigo. The veteran offered his usual composure and experience in the middle of the park. His influence was vital in preventing Getafe from completely overwhelming the visitors on the night.
Gavi: 6/10
Gavi had a rather underwhelming game in the middle of the park. He was not able to impact the game with his bursting runs and ability to thread through balls in behind the backline. The 17-year-old will be hoping for improved performance in the last game of the season against Villarreal.
Riqui Puig: 6.5/10
It was a bit surprising to see Riqui Puig start instead of Xavi simply retaining the 4-2-3-1 shape. The midfielder offered the usual spark with the ball at his feet, but he was apprehensive about committing an error and thus embraced a safety-first approach in his passes.
Ferran Torres: 5/10
It was yet another disappointing performance from Ferran Torres, who has arguably been Barcelona’s worst performer since the start of April. His lack of form is concerning for Xavi given his price tag and the fact he would remain a vital cog in the Barcelona attack next season.
Ferran Torres ?? stats vs. Getafe:
What are your thoughts on him? ? pic.twitter.com/X4jvxz4dpn
— barcacentre (@QuickFati) May 15, 2022
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 6/10
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had netted a brace in his last game. But the Gabonese international could not replicate his performance against Getafe. He lacked the usual sharpness in his game and looked quite clueless in the final third, failing to offer anything tangible to help Barcelona break the shackles.
Memphis Depay: 6.5/10
Memphis Depay looked in good touch heading into this game and continued his form against Getafe. He tried to make things happen in the final third, offering decent work ethic and commitment with his attacking contributions. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm was not shared by his attacking teammates.
SUBSTITUTES
Ansu Fati: 6/10
Ansu Fati was brought in around the hour mark to change the complexion of the game. The young attacking phenom had a chance to score late in the game, but he failed to capitalise on the opportunity. He will hope to start against Villarreal next weekend.
Luuk de Jong: 6/10
Luuk de Jong’s physical and aerial prowess inside the box were not useful for Barcelona during the late stages of the game.
Mika Marmol: N/A
A late replacement for Balde. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
