Getafe 0-0 Barcelona: Blaugrana secure 2nd place despite tepid draw

Getafe and Barcelona played out an almost entirely uneventful 0-0 draw at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on the penultimate weekend of the LaLiga season.

A game with an enormous 'end of term' air about it never got going, though in reality that suited both teams.

The draw means that Barca have sealed second spot in LaLiga, while Getafe are now safe from relegation.

It represents an improvement on last season for the Catalan giants after they finished third behind Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

A very quiet first half unsurprisingly saw Barca dominate possession, but it was Getafe who created more chances and former Blaugrana player Carles Alena tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen from range, though the effort was easily dealt with by the German stopper.

Little of note happened early in the second half either, with Barca's first shot on target not arriving until the 48th minute as Ferran Torres tried to chip David Soria, but it was an easy save.

Memphis Depay was forced off with an injury, replaced by fellow Dutchman Luuk de Jong, who set up Alejandro Balde for a shot that flew over the bar following nice work from Ansu Fati down the left.

It was an otherwise quiet game, though, and the important thing for both was that they secured the point needed for a positive end to the campaign.

A draw that suits both parties

It would not be fair to say this game was without any competition at all, but it was certainly not one where either side showed any sign of moving into another gear to try and win it.

Getafe actually registered eight shots to Barca's two in the first half, with four coming from top scorer Enes Unal, but none looked like breaking the deadlock, and the hosts could only muster one further shot in the second half.

They both got what they came for, though, which is all either will care about.

Pass masters

Now take this with a pinch of salt considering how little pressure was being put on anyone, especially in the second half, but Barca boss Xavi will have been rubbing his hands in glee seeing the passing stats for his team.

They racked up a pass completion percentage of 92.8, compared to the hosts' 78.5, and made 861 passes in total.

Lack of firepower

The links to Robert Lewandowski to a Camp Nou move will surely ramp up after this limp effort in front of goal.

Barca managed only five shots all game, and one on target. Torres took three of those efforts, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not having any before being taken off for Fati on the hour mark.

What’s next?

The LaLiga season comes to a close next Sunday as Getafe travel to Elche, while Barca host Villarreal.