Barcelona’s superb start to the LaLiga season continued as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Getafe on Wednesday, marking their seventh consecutive win.
Despite the strong results, manager Hansi Flick insists that his team still has room for improvement.
Robert Lewandowski’s early goal was enough to earn Barcelona the three points, but missed opportunities and a near-equalizer from Getafe late in the game exposed areas that Flick believes need addressing.
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Barcelona’s impressive form at the start of the 2024/25 LaLiga season has been the talk of the football world.
After seven games, the Catalan giants sit at the top of the table with 21 points, four ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Despite this perfect record, manager Hansi Flick is not entirely satisfied with the team’s performances.
He acknowledges the victories but believes that the team must raise their game to truly dominate in the long run.
The win against Getafe exemplified both the strengths and weaknesses of this Barcelona side.
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While they enjoyed nearly 80% possession and created 16 goal-scoring opportunities, their inability to convert more than one of those chances left them vulnerable.
Getafe nearly capitalized on that vulnerability, almost grabbing a late equalizer from a swift counter-attack in the dying moments.
“To get seven wins is perfect, but we have to do some things better. Today we had a very good mentality. For me, it’s a good starting point to improve,” Flick told reporters after the match. His focus remains on pushing Barcelona to play more efficiently and to avoid relying too heavily on narrow victories.
Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona’s goal-scoring talisman, was once again at the center of the action. His early goal, a well-taken finish, gave the Catalans the lead and ultimately proved to be the match-winner.
The Polish striker has been in fine form, consistently delivering when his team needs him most. Lewandowski’s goal against Getafe was his fifth of the season, underscoring his importance to Barcelona’s attack.
Yet, despite his contributions, even Lewandowski could not make the difference in converting the numerous other chances that Barcelona created throughout the match. The team’s profligacy in front of goal is something Flick wants to correct.
“We dominated possession and created many chances, but we were not clinical enough,” Flick said. “We need to work on being more decisive in the final third, especially in matches where we control the tempo like today.”
While Barcelona’s attacking efficiency may still need work, their defensive solidity under Flick has been impressive. The team has conceded just two goals in their first seven LaLiga games, a testament to their discipline and organization at the back.
The partnership of Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen has formed a strong barrier for the opposition, supported by full-backs Alejandro Balde and João Cancelo, who also contribute offensively.
In the match against Getafe, stand-in goalkeeper Inaki Pena had a solid performance, stepping in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Pena, 25, showcased his calm demeanor and shot-stopping ability, ensuring that Barcelona kept a clean sheet despite Getafe’s late push.
“I’ve been told that it’s always like that against Getafe—they are very good in defense, but I’m very proud of my players and how they fought for 95 minutes,” Flick said, praising the team’s effort to keep their opponents at bay.
With Marc-Andre ter Stegen out for the rest of the season following knee surgery, reports have surfaced linking Barcelona with a move for veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
However, Hansi Flick remained tight-lipped on the transfer rumors, choosing instead to back his current goalkeeping option, Inaki Pena.
“I only speak of the players we have in the team. Inaki Pena is our No. 1 goalkeeper and I’m happy with him. This is what it’s worth,” Flick said when asked about Szczesny.
Pena, having spent several years in Barcelona’s academy and on loan, now has the opportunity to solidify his place in the starting lineup. At 25, he is one of the more experienced options available, but Flick acknowledged that the depth in the goalkeeper position is relatively young, which may prompt Barcelona to seek additional experience if necessary.
