The game at the Estadi Johan Cruyff kicked off in torrential rain, which meant some extra zip on the passes being played by both sides.
The Catalan giants controlled possession with ease, restricting Getafe to the occasional forays upfield, yet a typical gritty showing from the visitors was frustrating the hosts and their supporters in the early stages.
One particularly incisive incursion from Pedri was diverted wide thanks to a last-ditch clearance from Abdel Abqar, but in the very next attack, a stunning pass from Raphinha and a backheel from Dani Olmo put the ball on a plate for Ferran Torres to guide home.
Adrian Liso was a lively presence down the Getafe right whilst Olmo continued to busy himself to justify his inclusion.
As the half hour approached, Robert Lewandowski was inches away from scoring Barcelona’s second, but Pedri’s ball into the area was just a little too quick for the Polish international.
Fortunately, just a few moments later, a long ball upfield caught Getafe cold, and Raphinha’s subsequent pass to Torres gave him time and space to finish low and accurately to David Soria’s right.
Both Lewandowski and Olmo went close as the first half came to an end, with Torres also smashing a fierce shot against the crossbar.
Javi Munoz gave the hosts a bit of a fright right at the start of the second half, but fizzed his shot just wide of Joan Garcia’s upright, and shortly after, Domingos Duarte’s free header needed to be gathered by the Barca keeper.
Getafe grew into the game further as the hour mark approached and the hosts took their foot off the accelerator, though it was Olmo that came closest to adding to the score with a vicious free-kick that was always rising on its trajectory towards goal.
Soon after, a great break and cut-back from substitute Marcus Rashford picked out Olmo, and his daisy cutter knocked the stuffing out of opponents who were looking to gain a foothold.
To Getafe’s credit, they remained competitive in their challenges and the way in which they closed down loose balls, however, Rashford’s pace and power were starting to pay dividends for the hosts, particularly in their ability to keep the visitors at bay in an attacking sense.
With no further goals scored, Getafe returned to Madrid having still never won against Barcelona in LaLiga, losing 18 and drawing four of their 22 meetings in Catalonia.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
