Pedri scored the only goal of the game as Barcelona laboured to a 1-0 win over Getafe at Camp Nou on Sunday to strengthen their grip on top spot in LaLiga.
Barca struggled to break down a stubborn Getafe side and it took a mistake for them to open the scoring. Andreas Christensen intercepted a Damian Suarez pass and fed Raphinha, who squared for Pedri to convert his fifth goal of the season.
Getafe almost levelled immediately when a poor Pedri ball inadvertently played in Borja Mayoral, but the former Real Madrid striker was denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Substitute Franck Kessie was denied late on by visiting goalkeeper David Soria and Ansu Fati curled over as Barca were forced to settle for just one goal.
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Rapid reaction
1. Barca get job done after long stretch in Saudi Arabia and Africa
This was not a vintage Barca performance, but it was an important three points in the grand scheme of the LaLiga title race. Not every display will be as exhilarating as last weekend’s Supercopa win over Real Madrid and perhaps that, in some way, explains why Xavi Hernandez’s side were not at their best against Getafe.
Five days in Saudi Arabia culminated last Sunday with a 3-1 Clasico win and the first trophy of Barcelona’s Xavi era. Barca did not have long to celebrate, though, because on Thursday, via a plane and a helicopter, they were off to the north African coast for a Copa del Rey game in the autonomous Spanish city of Ceuta, winning 5-0 to progress to the quarterfinal.
