Barcelona’s debut in the 2023-24 season proved to be a dismal affair. The reigning La Liga champions faced Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, but the final score of 0-0 hardly reflects the true nature of the match. It was a contest marred by Getafe’s aggressive play and Barça’s lack of cohesive tactics. The game saw three red cards, numerous instances of rough play, and a glimmer of hope in Lamine Yamal’s impressive cameo appearance. Unfortunately, this positive note was overshadowed by the overall disastrous start to the season for the Catalan side.

FIRST HALF

In the first half, Getafe’s sole objective seemed to be to disrupt Barcelona’s play and provoke frustration rather than engage in football or mount any attacking threat. Their approach involved aggressive physicality and deliberate annoyance to unsettle Barça’s players and provoke reactions. Getafe strategically executed this strategy off the ball to avoid the referee’s notice, utilizing pushes and sly elbowing across the pitch.

Barcelona, on the other hand, aimed to maintain possession and construct plays against Getafe’s tight defensive setup. Although finding openings was challenging due to Getafe’s resolute low block, there were instances of promise, including Oriol Romeu’s long-range attempt and Raphinha’s shot that forced a save from goalkeeper David Soria, almost resulting in an own goal on the rebound.

Despite their efforts, Getafe’s disruptive tactics largely succeeded. Just three minutes before halftime, their scheme bore fruit as Raphinha impulsively threw an elbow at Getafe’s Gastón Álvarez right in front of the assistant referee. The official’s prompt intervention led to a red card for the Brazilian.

With a player down, Barcelona faced an uphill battle at halftime, needing to navigate a challenging scenario against a confrontational opponent set to employ even more unattractive tactics in the second half.

SECOND HALF

Both coaches initiated attacking substitutions during halftime: José Bordalás replaced the injured center-back Stefan Mitrovic with winger Portu, while Xavi Hernández introduced Ez Abde in place of Andreas Christensen and shifted Frenkie De Jong to center-back.

Barcelona persisted in controlling possession and pushing forward to exploit spaces, with Abde’s entry adding a dynamic and direct element to their offensive efforts.

A turning point emerged 10 minutes into the second half as Jaime Mata received a second yellow card for a foul on Ronald Araujo, reducing Getafe to 10 men as well.

The match reverted to the pattern observed in the opening 30 minutes: Getafe held a deep defensive block, while Barcelona sought openings against their resolute defense.

However, the Catalans struggled to create significant chances and faced further setbacks as Xavi was shown a straight red card for dissent. The game’s quality diminished as it progressed into the final 20 minutes, though regulations required it to continue.

Oscar Hernández, Xavi’s brother, introduced 16-year-old Lamine Yamal in a bold move that injected life and excitement into the match. The youngster’s skill and vision quickly generated a significant opportunity, nearly resulting in a goal by substitute Ansu Fati.

In the last quarter-hour, Barcelona exhibited a more coherent attacking dynamic, moving the ball swiftly and introducing more runners and presence in the box. Conversely, Getafe appeared increasingly fatigued, defending with just nine outfield players.

Yet, the momentum was short-lived for Barcelona, as they again succumbed to poor passes and decision-making in the final third. The match concluded in an unsightly manner, with the final whistle sounding after almost 16 minutes of added time, marking the end of a profoundly disappointing encounter in Madrid.

This match was a lamentable showcase for La Liga, characterized by subpar football, unsportsmanlike and unsightly tactics from a team lacking elite standards, and inadequate officiating that allowed negative aspects of the sport to dominate for the entire 90 minutes. All of us witnessed a transgression against the beauty of the game, and Barcelona’s season could not have started on a more disheartening note.