Barcelona 2-1 Getafe: 5 talking points as Memphis Depay strikes to get Blaugrana back to winning ways | La Liga 2021-22

Memphis Depay the hero again as Barcelona labor to a narrow win over Getafe
Memphis Depay the hero again as Barcelona labor to a narrow win over Getafe

#3 What's up with Barcelona's defense? No clean sheets yet

For the second time in three years, Barcelona have failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening three games
For the second time in three years, Barcelona have failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening three games

How many times in recent history have Barcelona gone the first three league games of a season without registering a single clean sheet?

While some of you may feel it's merely jumping the gun here as it's still early days into the 2021/22 campaign, it does make you curious, though.

Having conceded twice in the opening weekend to Real Sociedad, the Catalans let in a goal against Athletic Bilbao and today saw their net ripple once again.

That's four goals allowed in just the first three games, four times more than last season, when Barcelona finished third, thus giving Ronald Koeman something to think about.


#4 Getafe lacked precision on the counter in the second-half

Getafe were threatening on the break but lacked the cutting edge to make their chances count
Getafe were threatening on the break but lacked the cutting edge to make their chances count

Buoyed by their own gritty performance in the opening stanza, Getafe started the second-half with great poise and urgency. However, they could've used a little more precision with the final ball or the final touch.

Jakub Jankto, Carles Alena and Nemanja Maksimovic all came agonizingly close to scoring from the break just 15 minutes after the restart, but saw their efforts either saved or blocked.

Maksimovic, in particular, would be disappointed as he fired straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen from just 18 yards out. A huge opportunity missed for them and a huge let-off for Barcelona.

Despite keeping only 35% of the ball in the second-half, the Azulones mustered five shots, although four of them were off target - a reflection of how wayward their attempts were.

Getafe could've easily secured at least a point with a tad more clinicality.


#5 Barcelona still not fully convincing

The Catalans are not there yet
The Catalans are not there yet

Barcelona's post-Lionel Messi era has been going smoothly thus far, but that doesn't mean the side have been overly impressive, or even in their usual selves.

There's a sense that they're still in a period of transition. And why not, coping with life without your greatest ever player isn't easy. It's going to take time.

Yet Ronald Koeman will be (and should be) asking for more from his players, who certainly have the quality and capability to produce better results.

As already discussed, their defense has looked shaky since the start of the campaign, while Depay is the only attacker who's consistently performed so far.

Seven points from a possible nine isn't bad, although Barcelona's performances haven't been fully convincing. They may want to find their best after this international break.

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Edited by S Chowdhury
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