Match Preview: Sunday 07/01/2007 17:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 17
FC GETAFE - FC BARCELONA 1:1 (0:0)

Coliseo Alfonso Perez, Getafe – Attendance: 14.000
Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez


Goals:

1-0 Guiza 59´
1-1 Xavi 69´


Yellow/Red Card

Alexis 90´


Getafe (4-4-2): Abbondanzieri - Contra, Belenguer, Alexis, Paredes - Mario Cotelo, Celestini, Casquero, Vivar Dorado (Souza 73´) - Pachon (Manu Del Moral 83´), Güiza (Verpakovskis 75´) - Manager: Bernd Schuster


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Belletti, Marquez, Puyol, Sylvinho (Gio 73´) - Edmilson (Olmo 90´), Iniesta, Xavi - Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Ezquerro (Saviola 59´) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:
No time to report earlier about the match but to be honest, we should forget about it as soon as possible. The best about the match really is that Barca won a point and leaders FC Sevilla as well as Real Madrid lost their away matches. So, even playing badly FC Barcelona came out as the winner of this weekend and cut Sevilla´s lead down to one point but still has to play against Betis. The Merengues and especially Capello is in "real" trouble and the Italian hardliner is under big fire again.


After a goalless and eventless first half, Getafe took the lead less than 10 minutes after the break. An amazing error of Rafael Márquez, who tried to back pass the ball to goalkeeper Victor Valdes was picked up by Getafe striker Güiza. Barca captain Carles Puyol had no chance to stop him except with a fould what would have been a straight red card. Guiza superbly finished into the right top corner with Víctor Valdes being without any chance.


In the 69th minute, midfielder Xavi took a free-kick and curled the ball over the wall into the top corner of the getafe goal. A beautiful and stunning free kick goal we usually see of Ronaldinho but the Brazilian magician himself would have been proud of this fascinating effort.


Valdés made a great save in the final minutes when he spectacularly tipped a Javier Paredes ball over the crossbar.


During injury time Getafe were reduced to 10 men when Alexis was sent off after receiving his second booking for diving.


My Comment:

Barcelona missed the chance to take the lead over Sevilla and run away from the Merengues, who are really struggling at the moment. Barca was without Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto´o, Messi, Zambrotta, Thuram and Motta but the remaining players should have shown that they are able to gain 3 important points. But they did not.


It was probably one of the most boring games I have seen of Barca and it looked to me, except from a freekick or penalty, they would not be able to score. But Xavi provided the touch of magic and scored with a superb taken free-kick.
Getafe will be thrilled with a point but knowing former Barca star Bernd Schuster, he will be fuming inside, not to have taken all 3 points.


Barca won a point, Sevilla lost 3 and the Merengues 3 plus a lot of credit of their own fans.

I suggest, we should just forget the Getafe match and go on to the next match tomorrow against Alaves in the Copa Del Rey.


Visca el Barca!