Getafe vs FC Barcelona: 5 talking points

FC Barcelona returned to winning ways with a regulation 2-0 win over Getafe, keeping them in the hunt for the league title. Neymar and Luis Suarez returned to the playing eleven, both scoring and there were a couple of impressive performances in midfield.Here are the 5 talking points about Luis Enrique’s side for the day

#1 Bravo defying age to remain at the top of the pecking order

Despite having turned 32 this year, Claudio Bravo’s performances make the far younger and somewhat inconsistent Marc-Andre ter Stegen look away while Jordi Masip still needs to go some way to be trusted by manager Luis Enrique.

The Zamora trophy holder was in full flow against Getafe yet again, marshalling his defenders well and being proactive on a perennial Barcelona weakness: set-pieces. Another impressive attribute of the Chilean is how quickly he has settled into Barcelona’s philosophy (Ter-Stegen may want to look away), as evidenced by his run out to the right wing ten minutes from time to clear a loose ball, showing decent athleticism for a 32 year-old.

His communication with his defence was flawless as usual, and any fears about a shaky back four in the build up to El Clasico can be put to rest with Bravo between the sticks.

He may not have been everyone’s first choice to inherit Victor Valdes’ legacy, but the Chilean has grown into the role and deserves full credit for the same. Given that he maintains his fitness, he may still make it very hard for ter Stegen or Masip to dispace him for another two or three years.

#2 Neymar and Suarez share the load

After Lionel Messi’s injury against Las Palmas, it was rightly wondered if Barcelona’s famed offensive trident would be as effective without The Flea on the right flank.

While it may be argued that Barcelona’s creativity has suffered in the Argentine's absence (though Andres Iniesta was also out injured for a while at the same time), the goals front has not dried up mostly due to Neymar’s and Suarez’s efforts.

While Suarez has effectively reprised his role of poacher par excellence from last year, Neymar, though prone to overdoing things at certain times, is slowly emerging as an incisive forward option rather than the young, brash showboater he was at Santos. The duo have largely compensated for Munir (or Sandro’s) presence on the right, and one eagerly counts down to Messi’s return for the El Clasico to see the goal-thirsty trident in action again.

#3 Sergi Roberto keeps the La Masia flag flying high

Though the name of Sergi Roberto, alongside Sergi Samper and Alejandro Grimaldo, has long been taken in hushed, excited tones around La Masia, few would have guessed that this would turn out to be the breakthrough season for the young Spaniard.

Originally a centre midfielder, Roberto impressed by replacing Dani Alves at right back over a few games, impressing one and all with his distribution and composure well beyond his years. With the return of the Brazilian marauder to the starting lineup today, most rightfully wondered if Roberto would keep his place.

But having impressed Luis Enrique so much, the young midfielder was rewarded with a place alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic at the heart of the midfield, and repaid the faith with a wonderful assist for Suarez’s opening goal, and keeping up the tempo throughout the game.

While many (including this scribe) have worried about the decline of quality in La Masia and the gradual influence of money overshadowing it, Roberto may well be proof that La Masia is alive and kicking provided due respect be accorded to it.

#4 The return of Iniesta

While Barcelona was greeted with the good news of Messi’s positive recovery in time for the El Clasico this week, another substitution at Getafe gave them further reason to cheer.

Munir El Haddadi was taken off the right flank to be replaced by midfield maestro Andres Iniesta, in a rare return to the wing for the Spaniard (albeit on the wrong flank) since Neymar arrived at the Camp Nou. Though Iniesta practically went through the motions in an issue largely settled by then, his mere presence would have sent the Barcelona morale skyrocketing and addressed issues about the long-term health of creativity in midfield.

Even though news of Barcelona looking to buy Philippe Coutinho or thinking about Sergi Samper’s (not to forget the presence of Sergi Roberto) future has emerged, it is undeniable that Iniesta’s presence as an elder statesman would pe hugely beneficial to the Camp Nou outfit even in these advancing years, and Luis Enrique should surely be looking to make the most of it.

#5 There\'s only one Jordi Alba

Another welcome change from Wednesday’s drab draw at Villanovese was surely the presence of Jordi Alba at left-back.

Credit where it’s due, Jeremy Mathieu probably puts in a far more offensive effort than any other centre-back being made to play at full-back. But the joy of seeing Alba make a marauding run down the flank or supply deadly passes to the forward line is simply unmatchable.

The former Valencia man was at it again tonight, repeatedly supporting the forward line by staying as a testy presence around the Getafe box, forcing the defenders to make errors they normally wouldn’t want to be forced into, proving yet again his status as probably the best left-back in the world at the moment, alongside Bayern Munich’s David Alaba.

His partnership with Jeremy Mathieu, in a departure from the usual pairing of Mascherano and Alba, proved capable enough and gives Barcelona enough confidence about the quality of their defensive depth for the tough fixtures ahead.

Edited by Staff Editor