Rodri masterclass leads Barcelona to a dominant 3-0 win over Getafe
FC Barcelona posted a comfortable 3-0 win at home against Getafe, thanks to early goals from Anthony Gordon and Gabriel Jesus, and a goal from Jules Kounde after halftime.
Hansi Flick’s men put in a complete performance in this week's La Liga clash, laying out all the cards on the table and eventually sealing a three-goal win.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring within two minutes of the match with a smart finish in the corner, and Gabriel Jesus doubled the lead just before halftime. But it was summer signing Rodri who controlled proceedings from the moment he touched the ball.
Total control and suffocating pressure
There was a telling statistic that said everything about this contest: the Blaugrana’s 83% pass completion compared to Getafe’s wretched 106.
Flick’s men used width and aggressive counter-pressing to smother Getafe’s 5-4-1 low block, with the visitors only managing four total shots and a single xG in the entire match.
Eric Garcia played his part in the mopping-up job as well, with 121 passes completed as he spent the game on the back foot. In turn, Getafe’s forward line struggled for time and space, ultimately spending most of the match in their own third.
Metronome in midfield for Rodri
While the entire Barca XI put in a shift, none did more than Rodri who, in the central midfield role, provided the perfect tempo for his team-mates.
The summer signing made 139 touches in total, and 121 successful passes as he completed 96% of his attempts, keeping Getafe on the back foot.
Rodri’s contribution in this contest went beyond the basic stats, too, as he had an eye for the positions to exploit in the Getafe defence, hitting the long ball with 10-of-11 success.
He made seven recoveries and two tackles, snuffing out any signs of a Getafe counter-attack before they could seriously threaten the Barcelona backline.
Goals from every direction
It was not all Rodri, as Barca’s attacking players made the most of their chances to add to the tally.
Gordon got the show underway with an excellent opener inside the first two minutes, catching Getafe napping as the Barca defence cleared his cross into the path of the onrushing forward. On the half-hour mark, Gabriel Jesus added a second in similarly fashion, following up a well-worked move with a composed finish into the corner of the net. Finally, in the 73rd minute, substitute Jules Kounde added a third from close range after a corner from Lamine Yamal, who had three key passes and an assist in the contest.
It was a complete performance from the Blaugrana, who are looking ever more likely to challenge for the La Liga title as the autumn fixtures begin.
