Barca on the up again SUAREZ STRIKE GUTS GETAFE
LUIS SUAREZ set Barcelona on course for a crucial win – thanks to a helping hand from keeper MarcAndre ter Stegen.
The Catalans’ keeper turned playmaker and goalmaker to tee up Suarez’s opener.
And Junior Firpo’s secondhalf effort wrapped up the win to end their nightmare away run and ease the pressure on boss Ernesto Valverde.
This was Barcelona’s first win away from the Nou Camp in nine matches – although they finished with 10 men following the late dismissal of defender Clement Lenglet.
And Ter Stegen ( inset) claimed the win was down to improvements at the back – as well as his contribution to the team’s attack.
The keeper sent a super ball to Suarez after charging out of his area to win possession. He said: “Lately teams have made a lot of chances against us but today they didn’t make so many.
“I think in some moments we used our experience, which is important.
“In the end you have to stick together and know how to defend.
“I’m happy I could do something for the team and take three points back to Barcelona.”
Barca were without captain Lionel
Messi and teenager Ansu Fati as well as winger Ousmane Dembele, who suffered a thigh injury before
the game. Getafe started promisingly and Ter Stegen had to make a fine save to keep out Angel Rodriguez as the hosts threatened at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
The shot-stopper then set up former Liverpool hitman Suarez, who coolly lobbed Getafe keeper David Soria to send Barcelona ahead in the 41st minute. Firpo doubled the lead four minutes after the break, finishing in close after Soria parried Perez’s effort. Lenglet collected a second yellow card eight minutes from time but Barcelona hung on for their first clean sheet of the La Liga season.