Barca Win Over Getafe 2-0..!!!!

Now Barcelona Lead The League....

Barcelona

65' Ibrahimovic Z.
80' Messi

The match between Getafe and Barcelona started at a slow pace, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the game in the opening few minutes. Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes had a scare on seven minutes, when Puyol played a pass back for Pique, who slipped inside the area, forcing the keeper to leave his post to clear the danger before Soldado could get to the ball.

Getafe were the better side at this time and could have broken the deadlock in the 12th minute, when Albin's left-foot volley from outside the area caromed off the underside of the bar.This might be the 1st goal of the game...

Barcelona tried to respond but they were finding it very hard to create any danger, despite Jeffren's attempts down the flanks.

The home side struck the woodwork for a second time 28 minutes into the game, when a pinpoint cross from Pedro Leon from the right was met by Soldado's overhead kick, which hit the left post.

The Catalan club produced a solid chance for the first time in the match two minutes later through Seydou Keita, who was given far too much room in the middle of the pitch and went for glory from 30 yards out, but his effort went slightly wide of the left post.

Barcelona wasted their best chance on goal in the 43rd minute as Jeffren's good cross from the right found Ibrahimovic, who did well to control the ball and get past the opposition of Rafa but the Swede's low shot was held by Ustari.

The second period began with Barcelona introducing Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta but it was from Xavi's feet that their first chance came from, when the diminutive midfielder fired a long ball from distance that Ustari had to divert over the bar.

Barcelona would find the back of the net on 65 minutes, when Abidal's cross from the left found Ibrahimovic at the near post, and the striker had only to use the tip of his boot to send it past Ustari.

And it would not take long for the treble-winning side to double their lead, as on 79 minutes Daniel Alves connected well with Ibrahimovic, who clipped the ball into the six-yard box for Messi to head home.

Despite their two-goal lead, Barcelona refused to take their foot back off the gas and Ibrahimovic almost scored his second of the game after being put through by Xavi but his shot went straight into the hands of the Getafe keeper.

Itturalde Gonzalez brings an end to Getafe's misery as Barcelona run out 2-0 winners. The first half was largely the story of the home side, but Barca came out like a team possessed following the introduction of Andres Iniesta and especially Lionel Messi. Barca retake top spot while Getafe remain on three points. Join us shortly for player ratings and the match report, as well as more action over the course of the evening!

Top of the Match

Messi
Barcelona

Ibrahimovic Z.
Barcelona

Flop of the Match

Puyol
Barcelona

Parejo
Getafe

Barcelona vs Getafe ( Who Will Be The Winner ?? )

vs

On Saturday FC Barcelona travel to Madrid to take on Getafe, who had a convincing 1-4 victory over Racing Santander in first week action. Getafe, under new manager Michel, look to improve on a dismal 2008/2009 season which saw them barely escape relegation. For FC Barcelona they cannot take Michel’s team lightly. With a great performance in week one by Soldado, collecting a hat-trick, Barcelona’s defense will have to be on their toes. Recently the blaugrana have not had an easy go with the Azulones having only won two of the last six head to head match-ups.

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has his work cut out for him with many players just coming back from international duty. In a press conference today, Guardiola spoke about the “reported” state of Lionel Messi for Saturday’s match following Argentina’s struggles last week in international qualifiers and the possibility of the team not qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Guardiola addressed those questions saying, “he (Messi) is sad, but like any player, when you lose it affects you. The drama will not affect him. Leo has millions of virtues but the strongest is his mental strength.”

The good news on the Barcelona front is that Andres Iniesta will make his return after a lengthy battle recovering from a leg injury. If Iniesta makes it into the match it would be his first action since the Champions League Final against Manchester United.

Another addition to the squad will be newly acquired center back Dmytro Chygrynskiy. Chygrynskiy has only practiced a few times with the squad and it is not known if Guardiola will have enough confidence in the Ukranian to give him the nod.

It was reported earlier in the week that Rafa Marquez would be returning to the squad for Saturday but after receiving medical clearance on Thursday, Guardiola has decided to not include him in the 18 man roster.

The 18 players available for Saturday’s match are: Valdes, Pinto, Abidal, Pique, Maxwell, Puyol, Alves, Toure, Txigrinski, Busquets, Keita, Jeffren, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Pedro, Ibrahimovic and Messi.