Barcelona: Pinto; Dani Alves, Marc Bartra, Mascherano (Fàbregas 65‘), Adriano; Xavi (Alex Song 87’), Busquets, Iniesta; Alexis, Messi, Pedro (Tello 91’). 4-3-3.
Getafe: Julio César; Valera, Rafa, Alexis, Escudero; Sarabia, Juan Rodríguez, Lacen (Michel 85’); Lafita, Colunga (Gavilán 44’), Sammir (Mosquera 67’). 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 23. Messi. Latched on to Dani Alves cross and fired shot in to far corner of net.
1-1. 37. Lafita. Controlled Sarabia’s lobbed free kick and turned shot past Pinto.
2-1. 67. Alexis. Picked up deflected Fàbregas pass and struck shot wide of keeper.
2-2. 92. Lafita. Got above defence to head Gavilán’s long cross wide of keeper.
Yellow cards: Mascherano 35’, Dani Alves 37’, Lafita 41’, Gavilán 64’, Adriano 90’.
Barcelona’s remote hopes of winning the league title this season have just about disappeared after they could only draw 2-2 against Getafe on Saturday afternoon. Adriano brought an early save out of Julio César and Iniesta and Pedro had shots blocked, but the locals didn’t create any clear cut chances until Messi connected with a Dani Alves cross to open the scoring midway through the first half. And a few minutes later Lafita equalized in controversial circumstances after controlling Sarabia’s lofted free kick with his arm before turning a shot past Pinto, referee José Antonio Teixeira at first ruling the strike out but then allowing it to stand. A few minutes after the restart Alexis chested the ball on to the crossbar, and midway through the second half the Chilean forward restored the lead after a cross from substitute Fàbregas deflected to him. Pedro, Fàbregas, Alves and Messi all missed chances after that to put the locals further in front, but with the game in the dying minutes Sarabia fired a shot straight at Pinto when free in front of goal, and in the second minute of injury time Lafita got on the end of Gavilán’s cross to head home his second of the game. An unexpected point for Getafe in their fight to avoid the drop, and after the final whistle Tata Martino accepted that Barça’s league challenge was over, and that he probably won’t be at the Nou Camp next season.