Sports
RAPHINHA, Joao Felix, Frenkie De Jong and Fermin Lopez scored to earn FC Barcelona a 4-0 win over visitors Getafe on Saturday to lift Xavi Hernandez’s side to second in the LaLiga standings.
It was a much-needed win for 2023 champions who are enduring difficult season, and have been under pressure after coach Xavi announced he was stepping down as manager at the end of the campaign.
In a half-empty Olympic stadium, the hosts dominated from the start and opened the scoring through Raphinha in the 20th minute.
In a quick counter, the Brazilian winger beat the offside trap to latch on to Jules Kounde’s long pass and blasted the ball past Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.
Raphinha wasted two great chances in similar fashion and Luis Milla almost equalised in the 49th minute with a long-range strike that hit Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s right post.
Joao Felix extended Barca’s lead in the 53rd minute with a tap-in from a low cross by Andreas Christiansen from the right.
De Jong struck from the edge of the box to score the third, following good work by Raphinha.
Substitute Lopez lashed in a rebound in added time to complete the rout for the champions who moved to second in the standings on 57 points, five behind leaders Real Madrid, one ahead of third-placed Girona, both of whom have a game in hand.
Real host Sevilla on Sunday while Catalan upstarts, Girona face Rayo Vallecano as they look to bounce back from two consecutive losses to keep their surprise LaLiga title ambitions alive.
“We played a very complete game both in defence and attack, I’m satisfied with the performance and the result, now we’ll wait to see what Girona and Real do…” Xavi told reporters.(Reuters/NAN)
25th February, 2024.
C. E.
Tags: FC Barcelona Fermin Lopez Frenkie de Jong Joao Felix Raphinha
