FC Barcelona earned a comfortable 3-0 win against Getafe, thanks to two first-half goals from Ferran Torres and another strike from Dani Olmo, but the real story was manager Hansi Flick’s commitment to discipline. 

Flick benched on-loan star Marcus Rashford for being a few minutes late to a team session, proving that team rules are non-negotiable, regardless of a player’s recent performance. 

However, Rashford responded perfectly, coming on at halftime to provide an assist. 

The victory moves Barcelona to 13 points from five games, keeping them just two points behind league leaders Real Madrid and strengthening their position as serious title contenders.

The match, played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff as work continues on the Camp Nou, saw Barcelona establish control immediately. 

The home side completely dominated possession (ending the game with 72% of the ball) and quickly converted their pressure into goals.

Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 15th minute following a brilliant backheel pass from Dani Olmo. 

Torres doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a low shot, assisted this time by Raphinha. 

The statistics highlighted the one-sided nature of the half, with Barcelona logging 16 total shots to Getafe’s 3 and dominating the Expected Goals (xG) battle (1.97 to 0.28). 

Getafe’s frustration was visible, resulting in multiple first-half yellow cards for players and their coach.

The major talking point before kickoff was the exclusion of Marcus Rashford from the starting lineup, despite the loanee having scored an impressive brace in the midweek Champions League fixture. 

Reports indicated that the English forward was dropped as a punishment for being a few minutes late to the morning’s pre-match activation session.

This disciplinary action is a consistent part of Hansi Flick’s managerial style. 

The German coach, who took over in 2024, has a strict policy that no late arrivals will start the match. 

Players like Jules Kounde, Inaki Pena, and Raphinha have all faced the same benching earlier this season for similar timekeeping issues. 

Flick’s rules—which also include mandatory daily weigh-ins and communal meals—aim to instill a ‘total professional’ mentality.

Despite the initial punishment, Rashford was substituted on at halftime for the booked Raphinha and made an immediate impact. 

In the 62nd minute, the forward got past the defense, raced into the box, and provided a clean square pass for Dani Olmo, who fired home the third goal from the edge of the area. 

This impressive response added an assist to Rashford’s growing tally, demonstrating his ability to compartmentalize and focus on the pitch.

The victory means Barcelona have taken 13 points from their first five league matches and sit just two points behind current La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who have a perfect record of 5 wins from 5. 

The Getafe win also marked Barcelona’s third clean sheet in six games across all competitions this season, indicating a strengthened defense under Flick.

For Getafe, who have now lost their last three matches, the result dropped them to eighth place in the table, highlighting their struggle to compete with the top teams. 

Meanwhile, Barcelona, blending the experience of players like Robert Lewandowski with young talents such as Pedri, looks well-equipped for a serious title challenge. 

Rashford, whose loan from Manchester United includes a reported permanent option of around £30.3 million, will be crucial as the squad prepares for upcoming league and Champions League fixtures, with the club’s new disciplinary standards setting the tone for their campaign.