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Barcelona continued their excellent home run in La Liga with yet another win in front of their fans as they saw off a determined Getafe side in a fixture that kept everyone at the edge of their seats. The game ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts as the two goals scored in quick succession in the first half proved to be decisive.
Lionel Messi could not get on the score-sheet himself but yet again showed his vision and passing prowess with an immaculate first-time assist for Antoine Griezmann's goal in the 33rd minute.
Blaugrana doubled their lead in a matter of six minutes, this time through an unexpected source in Sergi Roberto, who started at right-back today.
Despite securing a victory, they failed to go atop the standings, as leaders Real Madrid boast a better goal difference than the Catalans. Though Barca won the game, it was not for the lack of effort from Getafe, who gave all they had, especially in the second half, but could only pull one goal back through a delightful first-time volley in the 66th minute by Angel Rodriguez.
So, with another win in the bag for the reigning champions, here we take a look at the hits and flops from the game.
#1. Hit - Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Barcelona No.1 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is one of the best goalkeepers around, though he has conceded 29 goals this season, he performed when it mattered the most and his heroics between the sticks in the 72nd minute from point-blank range proved to be the saviour for the home team.
For the better part of the game, he remained untested by the Getafe frontline, who lacked the edge in the first 45 minutes, but was a match for the onslaught when the opposition ramped up their tempo in the final third in the second half.
Though he was helpless against substitute Angel Rodriguez's stunning volley 21 minutes in the second half, his decisive double save from a close range to deny Jaime Mata a tap-in with 18 minutes remaining helped in Barca claim three points from the game.
He is now being hailed as the hero for the team by fans on the social media and in all honesty, deserves that recognition.
#2. Flop - Frenkie De Jong
Goalscorer from the last fixture, Frenkie De Jong remained pretty much anonymous in the midfield tonight. This wasn't Barcelona's best performance and they were particularly lethargic in the middle of the pitch.
He failed to have a real impact on the game tonight and failed to have a role in the buildup of the two goals. Today just wasn't his day and the passes weren't clicking for him, meaning he had to resort to routine balls to just get the ball moving. The usual flair and creativity were lacking in his game tonight.
Well, though the midfield of both the teams failed to inspire their teams, more was expected from De Jong, who has emerged as the first choice midfielder in the squad ahead of Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic this season.
He is still young and has a lot to learn, but if he is to join the long list of legendary Barcelona midfielders, he needs to step up his game and perform consistently.
#3. Hit - Angel Rodriguez
Angel Rodriguez got the only goal for his side.
Barcelona-linked striker Angel Rodriguez found himself on the bench in this high-profile fixture but made an instant impact against the side he could end up joining soon, scoring the only goal for the visitors in the 66th minute.
The Spaniard's brilliant first-time effort left goalkeeper Ter Stegen stuck on his feet as he struck Mata's cross beautifully to find the right corner of the goal.
His addition to the side made a visible difference to the side's overall morale and his presence was especially fruitful in the attacking third, as the visitors launched an offensive in the second half, led by their top scorer, whose got his 13th goal for the season tonight.
He proved his worth as a solid No.9 at the Camp Nou tonight and was able to justify the home side's reported interest in him by a short, but effective performance tonight. Too bad it was not enough to earn any points for his team.
He also scored his fourth goal coming on as a substitute tonight, more than anyone else in the league in the 21st century, barring Alvaro Morata.
#4. Hit - Antoine Griezmann
Since moving to the Camp Nou, Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann has drawn a lot of flack from critics over his performances with the reigning champions, which many believe have been below expectations.
In scoring the opening goal of the game tonight, he also opened his scoring for the new year in league competitions, taking his tally to eight for the season.
Apart from his contribution in terms of the goal, he was very much in the thick of things whenever Barca moved the ball forward and looked determined to get involved in the buildup.
Though he also missed a couple of good chances to extend his team's lead in the second half, his energy on the pitch tonight was inspiring and he looked comfortable being the focal point of the attack with Messi assuming the duties of the playmaker.
In the absence of Luis Suarez, he needs to put in similar performances like this one and prove that he was worth all that money the club paid to bring him into their ranks.
