FC Barcelona went into the weekend close to the Liga title and they’re coming out of it even closer. From nine points clear with six games to go, they are now eleven clear with five matches left, all thanks to today’s 2-0 win at Getafe coupled with Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Real Betis.

the game as it happened

The upshot of it all is that if Barça could be confirmed champions for the 29th time as early as next weekend, should they win away to Osasuna and Real Madrid not win at Espanyol the day after. If not, the Clásico comes the week after, and Barça would certainly clinch the title by winning that!

Goals from Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford produced the goods today against a side that was as solid as ever in defence but rarely caused much trouble in attack. Three more points in the account, and the Liga title very, very nearly confirmed.

Fermin breaks the deadlock

Scoring away to Getafe is something Barça have struggled to do of late, with just one goal in their five previous visits. And they struggled again on Saturday, for although they dominated most of the first 45 minutes, it was not until practically the last kick of the game that they finally beat David Soria in the home net.

Pau Cubarsí robbed the ball in midfield and slotted a lovely ball through to the masked Fermin Lopez, whose finish was just as sweet.

No doubt reassured by the knowledge that Real Madrid had dropped yet more points the night before, there wasn’t quite the usual urgency to Barça’s football, but nevertheless they were creating a lot more danger than an opponent that is chasing a place in Europe next season.

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Rashford doubles the lead

Robert Lewandowski, with a header, and Roony Bardghji, standing in for the injured Lamine Yamal, on the end of a nice setup from Jules Kounde, had been the closest the Catalans had come to a goal before Fermin finally got the job done.

Kounde was very much the standout player, making key contributions in defence, setting up chances and coming close to heading in the second himself.

Cubarsí was also outstanding, and it was his crucial clearance that prevented what would otherwise have been a certain Getafe goal, just moments before Marcus Rashford was picked out on the counter and managed to outpace the chasing defenders before slotting the ball home to make it 2-0.

That was the game as good as over, but Barça still looked the more likely of the two sides to produce more goals, and very nearly did when Marc Casadó, apparently unsettled by a tug on his shirt, sent a golden opportunity over the bar in the final seconds.

It mattered for little. By that stage the game was already well and truly won and Barça fans can start preparing for the first ‘match ball’ in six days’ time.

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