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News ID: 49982
Publish Date : 12 February 2018 - 21:06

Barcelona Held by Getafe

BARCELONA (Dispatches) - Barcelona were held to a second consecutive draw as Getafe left Camp Nou with a hard-earned 0-0 draw.
For the first time since the April 2012 Clasico against Real Madrid, Barca failed to register a shot on target during the first half of a home game in LaLiga, although Luis Suarez did have a brilliant volley ruled out for offside.
Ernesto Valverde's side belatedly shifted through the gears after half-time but it was not enough to breach some stubborn resistance from Pepe Bordalas' visitors.
It means Atletico Madrid, who picked up a third consecutive victory at Malaga on Saturday, have trimmed Barcelona's advantage at the summit to seven points.
If Diego Simeone's men can make further inroads before the teams meet at Camp Nou on March 4, LaLiga might just have a title race as opposed to a procession this season.
Yerry Mina was handed a full debut at the heart of a makeshift Barcelona defence, with full-back Lucas Digne partnering the Colombia international at centre-half.
It was a factor in a stuttering start from LaLiga's leaders, although Mina's playmaking capabilities from deep appeared attuned to Barca's famed style.
Damian Suarez made a perfectly judged challenge to deny Lionel Messi when Ivan Rakitic's chipped pass found Barcelona's talisman in the 32nd minute.
Getafe continued to threaten when they could at the other end and Angel Rodriguez latched on to a clever ball behind Rakitic from Francisco Portillo, twisted into space past Mina and had a strike deflected narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Luis Suarez had twice been frustrated by the linesman's flag by the time a correct offside call meant his fabulous 44th-minute volley on the end of Messi's floated free-kick was chalked off, leaving the Uruguay star furious.
Philippe Coutinho finally managed to give Vicente Guaita some work in the 50th minute, although his well-struck, curling effort was too close to the Getafe goalkeeper.
The flag stayed down in the 56th minute but there was further anguish for Luis Suarez on the end of Paco Alcacer's clever flick when he slammed wide.
Guaita thrust out a left hand to keep out a more testing Coutinho attempt but Getafe's response to Barcelona's most enterprising spell of the match was impressive.
**** Following last weekend's 1-1 derby draw at Espanyol, leaders Barcelona were unable to return to winning ways against Getafe.