Yes, Gerard, "it's a fucking shit": the on-the-fly notes from Getafe-Barça

BarcelonaHard-fought victory for Barça that could be worth a League (0-2). Fermín and Rashford resolve the paperwork in a well-contested clash in Getafe. Below, some immediate thoughts.

A piece of the League. Barça now has an 11-point lead over Madrid. With only 15 points left to play, the chances of a sorpasso are practically reduced to zero. The current incentive is to see what the Whites prefer: end the agony quickly or expend energy in a classic with very little to gain. If they opt for the first option – they visit Cornellà-El Prat next Sunday – they will have to explain very well why they won't form a guard of honor for Barça on May 10th. And if they decide on the second, they will expose themselves to being the sad guests at the champions' party, who will always celebrate it more actively – and against Madrid – than passively from their couch at home. Whatever the case, Barcelonismo already has the cava chilled.

A sad protagonist. The match was heading towards halftime when Gerard Martín stepped awkwardly and injured his ankle. While doctor Lucas Gómez was asking him how he was, the Barcelona defender swore about the state of the Coliseum pitch. "It's a fucking mess," his lips could be read. Everyone knows that visiting Bordalás's Getafe means accepting time-wasting, provocations, and a slowed-down game due to a high and dry playing surface. "This is football, dad," argues the Azulón coach when reproached for these tactics. To a certain extent, it's amusing. But when the health of the footballers is endangered, no aphorism is valid. Another day it won't be a twisted ankle, but a torn cruciate ligament.

More difficult for Rashford. Without the injured Raphinha, the Englishman started a match from the bench again. After trying Gavi on the left against Celta, Flick covered this need with Fermín, a midfielder with the soul of a forward. The Andalusian is a nuisance in pressing, a sharp knife in space, and a great finisher. Three characteristics that make him the ideal alternative to Raphinha and that he used to open the scoring in Getafe, which is always an arduous task. With this Fermín, the option of signing Rashford permanently is likely to freeze completely. Nevertheless, the former United player continues to expand his record. A good counter-attack goal to seal the match.

Cubarsí is worth an empire. Beyond the value of Fermín's and Rashford's goals – Barça had only scored one at the Coliseum in their last five visits – the quiet role of a player who has received some criticism for his expulsion in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals must be highlighted. Some believe that Cubarsí is not a center-back to win Champions Leagues. While we wait for the opportunity to debunk this nonsense, we will applaud the two decisive actions of the Estanyol defender to secure three golden points in La Liga. The first, the ball stolen in the center circle for Pedri to serve the 0-1 into space. And the second, the goal saved on the very line a few seconds before 0-2. Mouths shut.