Barcelona returned from the international break with the same authority that had carried them to the top of LaLiga, brushing aside Getafe at the Estadi Olímpic with a rotated side that still looked in control from the opening minutes. Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for the club, Gabriel Jesus continued his sharp scoring run and Jules Koundé completed the win after arriving from right-back.
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Hansi Flick made extensive changes after a demanding international window and before a run of major fixtures, with Raphinha, Barcelona’s leading scorer and early-season reference point, unavailable. The response from those brought into the side was emphatic: a composed performance, sustained territorial dominance and further evidence that the squad has options beyond the regular starting group.
Koundé began at full-back, while Eric García operated centrally alongside Gerard Martín. Xavi Espart frequently moved inside from the left, taking up midfield positions, and Barcelona used Gavi, Rodri and Gerard to try to pierce Getafe’s deep defensive structure with forward passes. Dani Olmo worked in the spaces between the lines, while Lamine Yamal often found two or three defenders closing around him, opening room elsewhere for Koundé to advance.
Getafe, led by José Bordalás, remained compact in a low block even after falling behind almost immediately. Barcelona’s aggressive counter-pressing repeatedly forced the visitors back and supplied the platform for Gordon, who started in an unfamiliar front three with Yamal and Jesus.
The England international needed less than two minutes to register his first Barcelona goal. Driving in from the left through a crowded penalty area, Gordon struck a placed effort that took a deflection off Martín and wrong-footed David Soria.
Gordon continued to threaten from the same flank, with one cross-shot intended for Olmo becoming awkward enough for Soria to turn behind. Eric García also tested the goalkeeper from distance as Barcelona sought ways through the narrow spaces Getafe conceded.
Jesus, arriving after two goals in limited recent appearances, made his starting opportunity count. He pressed Getafe defender Romero into a turnover, carried the ball in from the left and waited for the shooting lane before sending an effort beyond Soria, who was caught moving the wrong way.
Control after the interval
Getafe showed a little more ambition after the restart, and Mojica sent a shot from the left into the side netting. It was their clearest attacking moment, however, as Barcelona soon restored their grip and gradually pushed the visitors back towards their own area.
Rodri set the rhythm in midfield, consistently offering himself for the ball and directing the movement around him. Espart then appeared high up the pitch to help create an opening for Olmo, whose central finish was saved by Soria.
Yamal had little room to produce his usual bursts of invention, but still contributed decisively. From the right he delivered to the far post, where Koundé arrived from deep and guided the ball in. Yamal could have added a goal of his own later, but sent a finish wide after receiving a cross from Adeyemi.
For Flick, the afternoon offered more than three goals and another league victory. With international minutes still in the legs and an intense sequence of matches ahead, Barcelona showed that their reshaped XI could maintain the club’s standards without Raphinha.
