A first-half strike by top-scorer Robert Lewandowski earned a below-strength Barcelona a 1-0 LaLiga win over lowly Getafe on Wednesday to maintain their 100% record after seven games.
Barcelona, who rested Pedri and were without the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Fermin Lopez and Andreas Christensen, went ahead through Lewandowski’s close-range strike in the 19th minute after a poor mistake by Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.
“For me, [Lewandowski is] the best No.9 of the last 10 years,” Hansi Flick said after the win. “His job is in front of the goal, in the box and he’s doing great. The players around give the last pass and this happens. Also today, when you look at the goal it’s fantastic. It was the first time in the first half when we played fast, with three passes and score a goal. This is what we want to see.”
The hosts dominated proceedings with almost 80% of possession and 16 goal attempts, but wasted numerous opportunities to win by a wider margin.
The triumph gives Barcelona their second-best league start ever, equaling the seven victories they earned at the start of the 2017-18 season. The Catalan club won eight straight to start the 2013-14 season.
Barcelona have outscored opponents 23-5 in their first seven games this season and have a four-point lead over defending champion Real Madrid, who on Tuesday beat Alaves 3-2.
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Lewandowski got his league-leading seventh goal from close range in the 19th minute. He picked up a loose ball inside the area after Getafe goalkeeper David Soria couldn’t hold on to a high cross into the area.
The Poland striker, who had scored twice in a 5-1 rout of Villarreal on Sunday, was replaced by Pedri in the 77th.
Iñaki Peña started in goal in place of Marc-André ter Stegen, who sustained a serious knee injury in the team’s previous league match.
Barcelona players entered the field with a T-shirt with words of support for Ter Stegen, who is one of the team’s captains.
Getafe, who nearly equalized in stoppage time, remains winless and in second-to-last place.
“We knew before a lot from the club said that normally always so tight against Getafe,” Flick said. “In the first half, we didn’t have the speed in our combination. This is why they were able to close the spaces. It’s very important that we fight 95, 96 minutes, and I am proud of that. Team [was] not only able to play football, but to fight with fantastic mentality.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this recap.
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