Barcelona showcased their resurgence in La Liga with an authoritative 4-0 triumph over Getafe, propelling Xavi's squad provisionally into second place with their fourth victory in five league fixtures.
Eager to capitalize on their recent upturn in form, Barça aimed to intensify the pressure on Girona, who had yet to play in this Gameweek. Xavi, having observed his team concede goals in their last four outings, emphasized the importance of achieving a clean sheet against struggling Getafe.
From the onset, the hosts asserted dominance, controlling possession for over two-thirds of the match, albeit initially failing to truly threaten David Soria in Getafe's goal. However, their breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute when Jules Koundé's pass set Raphinha free on goal. The Brazilian, returning from injury with his first start in over a month, displayed sharpness by slotting the ball home.
Barça's dominance persisted into the second half, swiftly doubling their lead within ten minutes as Raphinha orchestrated a superb play, assisting Anders Christensen, who in turn set up João Felix for a simple tap-in. Raphinha continued to shine, influencing the third goal by setting up Frenkie de Jong, who found the net for the first time since August.
With a comfortable three-goal cushion, Barça coasted through the final stages, encountering minimal resistance from an uninspired Getafe side. Fermín Lopez added a fourth goal in stoppage time, sealing Getafe's sixth consecutive defeat away to Barcelona.
Elsewhere, UD Almería showcased resilience, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Atlético Madrid. Despite Atleti's early lead courtesy of Ángel Correa's clinical finish, Almería responded emphatically with a sensational strike from Luka Romero, leveling the score with a venomous left-footed shot past Jan Oblak.
The momentum swung back in Atlético's favor as Rodrigo De Paul's deflected effort put them ahead once again. However, Almería refused to capitulate, with Romero netting his second goal of the game after a sublime exchange with Jonathan Viera, demonstrating remarkable composure to beat Oblak at the near post.
As the game entered its closing stages, Álvaro Morata had a golden opportunity to snatch victory for Atlético, but his wayward effort sailed over the bar. The draw leaves Atlético vulnerable in the La Liga standings, with the possibility of slipping out of the top four pending Athletic Club's result.
Meanwhile, despite Almería's position at the foot of the table, the draw extends their unbeaten run to three matches under Gaizka Garitano's stewardship, instilling renewed hope in their battle against relegation. With nine points separating them from safety, Almería will take heart from their recent performances as they strive to climb out of the relegation zone.
Check out the latest Spanish Laliga Table below:
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