Barcelona have failed to close the gap at the top of La Liga to two points after their eight-game winning streak in all competitions came to an end with a 0-0 draw against Getafe this afternoon.
Lionel Messi hit the post from a free kick, but Getafe produced a resolute performance at Coliseum Alfonso Perez and were good value for their point.
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As expected, Barcelona took control of the game early on as Jordi Alba and Dani Alves both pushed forward to pin Getafe back in their own half.
Karim Yoda looked threatening on the break for the hosts, but Barcelona did a good job of crowding the Frenchman out when he received the ball.
A half-chance for Barcelona saw Luis Suarez find some space outside the box, but his effort flew high and wide of the crossbar.
Messi should have opened the scoring with Barcelona's first real chance of the game on 19 minutes when he collected a deflected Ivan Rakitic effort inside the box.
The Argentine's low strike, however, was straight into the body of Vicente Guaita, and Suarez spurned another great chance moments later as Barcelona started to assert themselves.
Despite their improving performance, the visitors were prone to losing the ball and Angel Lafita nearly profited from an error, but took the ball too wide and saw his low cross cleared at the vital moment.
Claudio Bravo was then forced into a good save from Lafita after the forward shuffled into the box before sweeping the ball towards the top corner.
Following the restart, Messi came close with a couple of well placed free kicks. His first, from just outside the box, rattled the woodwork, and his second was saved well by Guaita as Getafe continue to hold on.
Barcelona sent on Munir El Haddadi and Andres Iniesta as they searched for a goal, but they could not find a winner as they failed to make up ground on Real Madrid in the title race.
Benjamin Topliss
