La Liga Roundup: Barcelona opens title defence with draw at Getafe
MADRID (AP) — There was lots of complaining however no celebrating for Barcelona because it started the defence of its Spanish league title on Sunday.
Barcelona couldn’t overcome Raphinha’s first-half purple card for elbowing an opponent, after which didn’t get a VAR choice to go its approach late within the recreation, in a 0-0 draw at Getafe of their league opener.
“If this is the product that the Spanish league wants to sell, then it’s an embarrassment,” mentioned Barcelona coach Xavi, who himself was despatched off within the seventieth for arguing with officers over a foul not being known as.
Raphinha was despatched off after hitting Getafe defender Gastón Álvarez on the top together with his proper elbow whereas preventing for place in assault within the forty second minute. Barcelona performed a person down till Getafe had Jaime Mata despatched off with a second yellow card for a foul on Ronald Araujo within the 57th.
Barcelona had extra cause to complain when it thought it had a penalty kick after Araujo was fouled inside the realm practically 10 minutes into stoppage time, however video evaluation decided that there was a handball by Barcelona midfielder Gavi within the buildup.
“That handball didn’t exist,” Xavi mentioned. “They had said that only the very clear handballs would be called, and that’s not what happened. It was very unfair.”
The match marked the debut of recent Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan after his transfer from Manchester City within the offseason.
Real Madrid gained 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, whereas Atletico Madrid begins its marketing campaign in opposition to Granada on Monday.
BENÍTEZ LOSES
Rafa Benítez’s stint with Celta Vigo started with a 2-0 residence loss to Osasuna.
Celta conceded a aim in every half to make it a dropping debut for the veteran coach after taking up the squad within the offseason.
Celta had just one try on track at Balaídos stadium in Vigo. Rubén García and Moi Goméz scored for Osasuna, which completed seventh final season and earned a spot within the Europa Conference League.
“When you face a team that qualified to a European competition and has kept the core of its squad, you noticed that we are still missing a few things,” Benítez mentioned. “We will try to make up for that with hard work and, if possible, by adding to the squad through transfers.”
Benítez final coached Everton in England and beforehand was on the helm of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli. He gained the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.
Benítez had a stint in China earlier than taking up Everton and after teaching Newcastle. He took over a Celta group that completed thirteenth final season within the Spanish league.
BETIS WINS LATE
Substitute Willian José scored 5 minutes into stoppage time as Real Betis beat Villarreal 2-1 in a matchup of two groups that narrowly missed out on a Champions League berth final season and are aiming to repeat their robust campaigns.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis opened the scoring with a aim from Ayoze Pérez within the twentieth earlier than the hosts equalized with Jorge Cuenca within the 61st. José’s late winner got here with a header from the center of the realm.
Former Madrid participant Isco made his debut with Betis.
