Real's 1-1 draw against Betis a day earlier presented an opportunity for Barca to widen their lead. The Catalan giants seized the chance, securing a 2-0 victory at Getafe's Coliseum stadium. Goals from Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford in each half moved the reigning champions closer to defending their title.

Barca began the match without injured wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Their previous absence saw the team suffer a 1-4 defeat to Sevilla in round eight. True to form, Barca started slowly. While the midfield controlled possession, the attacking trio of Fermin Lopez, Robert Lewandowski, and Roony Bardghji struggled to create clear chances.

Fermin Lopez celebrates a goal during the Getafe 0-2 Barca match in La Liga round 33 at the Coliseum stadium on April 25. *Photo: AFP*

Barca risked completing their first half without a shot on target since May 2023 due to their lackluster play. However, in the 45th minute, they broke the deadlock. Following Pau Cubarsi's tackle, Pedri delivered a through ball to Fermin Lopez, who scored with a powerful diagonal shot past the Getafe goalkeeper.

Getafe, who were sixth before the match, failed to demonstrate their European aspirations in the first half. Despite a decent start, coach Jose Bordalas's side quickly retreated, playing defensively and managing only 22% possession. Getafe lacked players capable of sensing counter-attack opportunities and exploiting Barca's high defensive line, a tactic Atletico successfully employed in recent Champions League and King's Cup encounters.

After halftime, Barca quickly consolidated their lead. They patiently controlled possession, maintained their formation, and waited for Getafe to push forward before exploiting the spaces created. Barca's last loss after taking a lead was a 1-2 defeat at Girona in round 24. Since then, they have won eight matches, conceding first in only one.

Midway through the second half, coach Flick introduced Rashford for Bardghji. The English forward quickly made an impact, troubling Getafe's defense.

In the 74th minute, following a Getafe corner, Barca launched a counter-attack to seal their 2-0 victory. Lewandowski delivered a long pass to Rashford, who was onside and surged forward. The Manchester United loanee then confidently approached the goal and scored with a low shot past goalkeeper David Soria.

Marcus Rashford scores during the Getafe 0-2 Barca match in La Liga round 33 at the Coliseum stadium on April 25. *Photo: Reuters*

Rashford's goal alleviated significant pressure. The English player had been inconsistent, particularly when deputizing for Raphinha on the left wing. His disappointing Champions League performances even fueled rumors that Barca might return him to Manchester United after the season.

With his assist for Rashford, Lewandowski reached 100 goal involvements in La Liga (81 goals and 19 assists). The Polish star has played 129 matches in the competition since the 2022-2023 season, averaging three goal contributions every four games.

Barca now hold an 11-point lead over Real with five rounds remaining. Should they defeat Osasuna in the next round and Real drop points against Espanyol, coach Hansi Flick's team would secure the title four rounds early. This would mean entering the El Clasico in round 35 as champions.

Traditionally, other teams form a guard of honor for the champions. However, citing the "Negreira case", Real has indicated they would not participate in this tradition if Barca secures the title early.

Thanh Quy