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 residence with Antoine Griezmann netting a brace as he continued his glowing type.
Champions Madrid beat Cadiz on Saturday to chop again Barcelona’s lead, and with 9 video games remaining it appears extremely unlikely they may catch Barcelona — however Xavi Hernandez’s aspect are limping over the road.
Barcelona drew 0-0 at residence in opposition to Girona on Monday and adopted that up with a second consecutive stalemate, the crew nonetheless wallowing after their Copa del Rey semi-final thrashing by Madrid earlier in April.
The one constructive 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 undergo, as a result of the grass is excessive, the standard methods, so it’s exhausting, the clear probabilities you may have — you must put them away,” Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen advised 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 criticism that the low high quality of the pitch performed an element within the consequence, however mentioned Barca couldn’t cover 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 anxious 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 means by –
After a sluggish begin, the Catalans created the primary clear likelihood on the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, when Raphinha raced on to an extended ball and fired in opposition to the submit.
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 subject, including to Barcelona’s lengthy listing of absentees.
The league leaders have badly missed explosive winger Ousmane Dembele and artistic midfielder Pedri in latest weeks.
David Soria saved effectively to maintain out a Robert Lewandowski header simply earlier than the break.
Lewandowski nodded narrowly broad from an Alba cross earlier than Soria made one other stable cease from a rasping Raphinha effort.
Getafe had been content material with the purpose, sitting again as Barcelona probed for a breakthrough, though Borja Mayoral virtually snatched a winner for the hosts on the break.
Barcelona are nonetheless agency favourites to raise the title for the primary time since 2019, however ought to they stumble at residence 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 comfy than it proved to be.
Antoine Griezmann headed Atletico forward within the fifth minute when Angel Correa nodded on a nook to the again submit.
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 aspect had been dominant all through, however Almeria pulled degree 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 go on the finish of a fantastic crew transfer for his eleventh league objective.
Carrasco and Griezmann each hit the submit within the second half as Atletico appeared to kill the sport.
They couldn’t discover the third and Almeria gave Atletico just a few scares within the remaining 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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