Messi Silenced As Barca Suffer First Loss
18 October, 2020
LaLiga
Result: Getafe 1-0 FC Barcelona
Date: 17 October 2020
Venue: Coliseum Alfonso Pérez
FC Barcelona lost their first game of the LaLiga campaign after heading down 1-0 to Getafe on Saturday evening.
Barca manager Ronald Koeman made four changes from their draw with Sevilla, with Clement Lenglet returning from suspension but he dropped Philippe Coutinho and Anssumane Fati to the bench and gave starts to Ousmane Dembele, Sergio Dest, and Pedri.
Blaugrana had a slow start, but Lionel Messi came near to grabbing the lead in the 20th minute with a first-time strike on the edge of the box that rattled the near post.
Antoine Griezmann had a glorious chance to break the deadlock for the visitors on the half-hour mark after Frenkie de Jong sent him clear on goal however the French forward blasted his shot over the bar with only goalkeeper David Soria to beat.
Following the first half ended goalless, Jaime Mata gave Getafe a shock lead right before the hour-mark from the penalty spot after de Jong brought down Djene Dakonam in the box.
In response, Barca had urgency going forward after Coutinho and Fati were introduced soon after going an objective down with Pedri and Dembele both making way.
However, the hosts were locating the better chances on counter-attacks and Juan Hernandez had a glorious chance to kill the overall game for Getafe within the last eight minutes after going clear on goal but his looping effort came off the crossbar.
Messi almost snatched the equalizer for Barca in stoppage time after dribbling past two defenders but his low shot missed the bottom corner by a whisker and Getafe held on for the victory.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za