Not even Bordalás can stop a Barça that already smells of champion

BarcelonaBarcelonism is excited about the possibility of winning the League title against Real Madrid. The fans look at each other, with knowing glances, imagining that in a few days Hansi Flick's team can lift the title for the second consecutive year, achieving the definitive result against an Arbeloa's Real Madrid that walks through the championship like a lost soul. In fact, perhaps they will win it sooner. In that case, the whites should give them a guard of honor. That would also be funny.

Barça is doing its own thing. In Getafe, where it is always difficult to play and even more difficult to win, the blaugrana team has taken the three points with a match that will not go down in history. A goal from Fermín López, who became the team's opener, paved the way after a first half in which very little football was seen. And Rashford, who played a good second half, sealed the victory in the second half to avoid suffering. This Barça has been learning to win matches even when everything is difficult, when there is no space and when the players who usually finish the job, like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, are missing.

After seeing how Madrid cannot prevent their ship from continuing to lose water on Betis's field, Barça knew that, if they did not fail in Getafe, they could get out the calculator to discover that a draw in the clásico against Madrid might be enough to secure the title. But winning in Getafe is difficult. In fact, it had been seven seasons since Barça last won there, when they had done so with goals from Luis Suárez and a Junior Firpo, of whom a good part of Barcelonism remembers little. Seven years in which anything has happened to Barça. It seems like seven decades.

As expected, it has been Roony Bardghji who has played in the position of the injured Lamine Yamal. And the Swede has shown flashes, but it is still too big for him to step into the shoes of the Rocafonda genius. The difference is abysmal. And the setting didn't help either. Getafe is a team set up as if it were a demolition company: their priority is to bring down the opposing team. And if the Virgin appears, to score a goal. Playing against Bordalás' teams is like chewing sand, unpleasant. Barça would keep trying with the midfield where a Gavi, increasingly plugged in, was a starter, surrounded by Pedri, always brilliant, and a Dani Olmo who took advantage of the spaces generated by Lewandowski to reach the opponent's area. The Pole, however, very little. He doesn't quite get the wheel turning, but it wouldn't be the day to nail him to a cross either, seeing what was happening on the pitch. He has always played with an opponent hanging on his back, with his back to the goal, trying to win balls, chipping away.

Fermín, key

Getafe, who aspire to qualify to play in Europe with a recipe that consists of driving rivals crazy, as they had done a few days ago in San Sebastian, where they had won without a single shot on goal, seemed quite content before the break, but it was then that a great recovery by Cubarsí allowed Barça to find the local defense caught off guard. It doesn't usually happen. And Fermín López, who has 13 goals in 15 games, has not missed. An invaluable goal from the Andalusian player, who played protected with a mask on his face.

A key goal, as on the poor pitch that caused Gerard Martín's complaints, Barça took control of the match without urgency. Flick protected the team by making changes for Koundé, who was booked, and Gavi, who was tired. The German coach would bring on Araújo, De Jong, and Rashford to try and seal the win, as the second goal was not coming, although Dani Olmo came very close on two occasions. Those are the chances that need to be taken, because the score remained very tight. Although they are the second-lowest scoring team in the League, only surpassed by Oviedo, Getafe always manages to create some clear chances. And they had one in the 73rd minute, with an action in which Pau Cubarsí, who played an impeccable match, cleared the ball just as the home fans were already celebrating Mario Martín's equalizer. What a moment, this, as 30 seconds later Rashford scored the 0-2 from an action started by Joan Garcia, a goalkeeper who always thinks about attacking and, from time to time, is the start of plays that end with a goal in the opponent's net.

Getafe, finally, threw in the towel. They surrendered. Seven years later, Barça has won with a very serious, very professional performance. A champion's triumph. Without fireworks or great plays, but always understanding what needed to be done. A mature team's triumph. The possibility of being champions against Madrid, a kind of erotic dream for many Barcelona fans, is getting closer thanks to a team that could reach 100 points. And this, despite playing without some of their best players.