Spanish champions Barcelona beat top-four chasing Getafe 2-0 in front of a subdued and near half-empty Nou Camp on Sunday in their first La Liga game since a humbling defeat by Liverpool sent them crashing out of the Champions League semifinals.
Sunday’s result meant little to Barca, who clinched an eighth Liga title in 11 seasons two weeks ago, but it could prove fatal to Getafe’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time as they dropped one place to fifth.
Valencia leapfrogged Getafe into fourth due to their superior head-to-head record after beating Alaves 3-1 and will snatch the final Champions League spot if they win at Real Valladolid in their final game of the season next week.
Barcelona’s Chilean Arturo Vidal opened the scoring near the end of the first half, poking a loose ball home after Gerard Pique’s flicked header was parried by Getafe keeper David Soria. Read more