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May 12, 2019 at 5.30pm UK at Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Attendance: 57,088
Barcelona
2-0
Getafe
Vidal (39'), Arambarri (89' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Result: Arturo Vidal, Lionel Messi score as Barcelona overcome Getafe

Barcelona record a 2-0 win over Getafe on the penultimate matchday of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign.

Arturo Vidal and Lionel Messi scored the goals as Barcelona recorded a 2-0 win over Getafe on the penultimate matchday of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign.

Barca have already been confirmed as Spanish champions, but Getafe are chasing fourth position, and the defeat at Camp Nou - coupled with a win for Valencia - has seen the capital outfit drop into fifth spot ahead of Week 38.

Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti hugs teammate Arturo Vidal during the team's La Liga clash with Getafe on May 12, 2019© Reuters

The absence of Luis Suarez following a knee operation meant that Messi went through the middle, with Malcom and Philippe Coutinho selected in the wide positions.

Getafe were without two key players in the shape of Jaime Mata and Bruno Gonzalez through suspension, but the away side made a positive start to the contest.

El Geta had a wonderful chance to take the lead in the 11th minute when Jorge Molina found all sorts of space inside the Barca box, but the experienced forward somehow missed the goal occupied by Jasper Cillessen, who started with Marc-Andre ter Stegen named on the bench.

Jordi Alba was almost freed inside the Getafe box in the 21st minute as Barca looked to make the breakthrough, but David Soria vacated his goal to clear as the score stayed level at Camp Nou.

Getafe thought that they had taken the lead in the 26th minute when Molina raced through and found the bottom corner with a super finish, but the striker was just offside, and that was confirmed following a VAR review.

Molina then missed the post with a curling effort in the 29th minute during a very strong period for the visitors, who were looking the more threatening in the final third of the field.

Ivan Rakitic twice had attempts in the period that followed, but the Croatian's first effort was wide of the post before Soria made a smart save to his left.

Barca found the opening goal in 39th minute, though, when Vidal converted from close range after Gerard Pique had seen his header from a Messi free kick saved by Soria.

Angel swept wide of Cillessen's post as Getafe looked to answer back late in the half, before Soria had to make a brilliant save to keep out a powerful Malcom effort down the other end of the field.

Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho in action with Getafe's Dimitri Foulquier in La Liga on May 12, 2019© Reuters

Barca started the second half on the front foot, and Vidal turned a deep Coutinho cross just wide of the post in the 53rd minute with the home side looking to double their advantage.

Francisco Portillo had been introduced for Getafe at the interval, but there is no question that the visitors were missing their leading scorer Mata, who was unavailable through suspension.

Soria did well to keep out a chipped effort from Messi in the 55th minute, before the Getafe goalkeeper made an even better stop to prevent Malcom from smashing home from close range in the 58th minute.

Wonderful defending from Leandro Cabrera then prevented Messi finding the back of the net in the 65th minute, with the centre-back somehow sprinting back to clear the attacker's effort off the line.

Getafe struggled to carve out chances in the second period, but Angel had a goal-bound strike deflected behind in the 71st minute, before the forward headed over the Barca crossbar 15 minutes from time.

The fact that El Geta had to commit players forward in search of a leveller meant that there was space for Barca down the other end, but a couple of crosses bounced off Messi inside the box.

Soria made two smart saves from Abel Ruiz and Messi late on, before Molina passed up an incredible chance for Getafe to level - heading against the post from close range.

As it transpired, Barca were to score a second late on, with Messi converting from close range after a clever pass from Sergi Roberto had released the Argentine into a dangerous position.

Barca will finish their La Liga season at Eibar next weekend, before facing Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on May 24. Getafe, meanwhile, will be looking to snatch back fourth when they host Villarreal.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Cillessen; Roberto, Umtiti, Pique, Alba; Rakitic (Alena 62'), Busquets, Vidal; Coutinho (Ruiz 68'), Messi, Malcom (Semedo 78')

GETAFE (4-4-2): Soria; Damian, Djene, Cabrera, Olivera; Foulquier (Saiz 75'), Maksimovic, Arambarri, Shibasaki (Portillo 46'); Molina, Angel (Duro 86')

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2Sevilla32105147
3Valencia32105147
4Barcelona32107437
5Atletico MadridAtletico32105327
6Mallorca32103127
7Real Sociedad32014406
8Osasuna31203215
9Athletic Bilbao31202115
10Rayo Vallecano31024403
11Villarreal30302203
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14Real Betis302123-12
15ElcheElche302112-12
16Espanyol302101-12
17Granada302115-42
18Celta Vigo301213-21
19Getafe300314-30
20AlavesAlaves300318-70
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