Barcelona Dominate Getafe Without Raphinha, Proving They're Unstoppable With Or Without Their Star

Barcelona continued their stunning start to the campaign with a commanding 3–0 victory over Getafe on Saturday at the Camp Nou.

The most lethal attack in the world at this stage of the season picked up right where they left off before the international break, as Anthony Gordon put Barcelona in front within the first 80 seconds of the match. Despite a fortunate deflection, it capped off a slick move and marked his first goal in Blaugrana colors.

Hansi Flick's men completely overwhelmed a toothless Getafe side from the outset, and Gabriel Jesus eventually doubled the advantage after winning the ball back and finishing clinically in his first Barça start.

The hosts eased off in the second half with the result already secured, but Jules Koundé still converted a Lamine Yamal cross with another well-worked move inside the box to complete the scoring at three.

Barcelona remain unbeaten through nine matches across all competitions this season and sit six points clear at the top of the La Liga table. It's still early days, but no side in Spain looks capable of challenging Flick's formidable outfit.

The One Thing We Can't Ignore

On a day when Barcelona were without key regulars including Raphinha, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsí, Flick's reshuffled lineup looked equally dangerous.

Raphinha picking up an injury during international duty threatened to disrupt Barcelona's potent attack. But those concerns quickly faded as his stand-in, Gabriel Jesus, impressed greatly in his first Barça start.

Gavi resembled the exceptional talent who claimed the 2022 Kopa Trophy, looking sharp and brimming with confidence alongside Rodri in the midfield double-pivot. Jules Koundé also delivered his finest display in months in just his second start of the season.

A year ago, Flick's squad was noticeably thin in certain areas, frequently requiring players to fill unfamiliar roles to patch gaps in the lineup. When Pedri and Raphinha were sidelined, Barcelona struggled to maintain their high standards, which ultimately contributed to a Champions League quarterfinal exit.

Now, the Catalans possess the most well-rounded squad of the Flick era, with an abundance of quality options across virtually every position. They are far better prepared to absorb the loss of key players.

Barcelona have a deep roster packed with starter-caliber talent for the first time since Lionel Messi's departure in 2021, and it appears everyone knows their role. At this moment, Barça are winning convincingly, but it is this squad depth that has many believing they are the side best placed to end a Champions League drought that will soon stretch to 12 years.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Getafe (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Joan García—7.4: Rarely called into action but handled any potential threats composedly. The best news is his return to the pitch after a minor injury kept him out of the last match before the break.

RB: Jules Koundé—8.8: Now the French player with the most appearances in Barça history, and he marked the occasion with a much-needed strong performance, showing great energy and keeping Getafe's left flank in check. Topped it off with his first goal of the season.

CB: Eric García—8.0: Largely untested by Getafe's blunt attack, García frequently pushed forward and tried his luck from range, coming close to netting his first goal of the campaign.

CB: Gerard Martín—8.1: Remarkably, this was Martín's 100th appearance for Barça. The converted center-back had little to deal with defensively but rose to the occasion when called upon.

LB: Xavi Espart—8.0: Continues to perform as though he already has 200 senior appearances to his name. Assured in possession, thrilling the Camp Nou crowd with a series of brilliant lofted balls into the box for arriving teammates.

CM: Rodri—8.4: Commanding at both ends of the pitch, protecting the defense by snuffing out Getafe's attacks with ease while orchestrating Barça's play from the center of the field. He looks back to his very best.

CM: Gavi—7.3: His strongest showing in some time. Frequently involved in building attacks, and his sharp turns to leave opponents behind with his first touch alone were reminiscent of the teenager who burst onto the scene at the start of the decade.

RW: Lamine Yamal—8.2: Following a brilliant international window with Spain, Yamal wasn't quite at his sharpest here. He showed his exceptional quality in glimpses but was inconsistent at times and lacked his usual cutting edge in front of goal. Still managed to register an assist, extending his run to seven consecutive Barça games with a goal contribution.

AM: Dani Olmo—7.3: Drifted in and out of the game, but Barcelona's attack was at its most threatening when the platinum-blonde playmaker found space to receive the ball between the lines.

LW: Anthony Gordon—8.3: After a three-goal international window with England, it took Gordon fewer than two minutes to open his Barça account with a fortunate yet well-crafted individual strike.

ST: Gabriel Jesus—8.5: In his first start for Barça, Jesus had the freedom to roam across the final third, creating space for teammates to exploit. His relentless pressing was eventually rewarded when he dispossessed a center-back before finishing with a composed goal.

SUB: Fermín López (61' for Olmo)—7.1: Brought a burst of energy in the second half. López recorded the joint-most successful dribbles despite featuring for only 30 minutes.

SUB: Pedri (61' for Gavi)—7.2: A delightful cameo in which he oozed class in midfield with his trademark passes and runs to bypass the press.

SUB: Marc Bernal (72' for Rodri)—6.2: Helped Barça comfortably manage the game in the closing stages.

SUB: Karim Adeyemi (72' for Gordon)—6.5: Created three chances during his 20-minute cameo, the joint-most of any player on the pitch.

SUB: Hamza Abdelkarim (81' for Jesus)—N/A

Subs not used: Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), Dominik Livaković (GK), Alejandro Balde, João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Brian Fariñas.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Barça's Comfortable Win