Barcelona failed to score for the first time in La Liga this season as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Getafe at the Camp Nou this afternoon.
Not since September 2016 against Malaga had Barca fired a blank at home but Getafe's organised defensive display earned them a deserved point.
Barca had scored 24 goals in their previous six home matches against Getafe but were unusually toothless in the first half.
The unbeaten league leaders did not register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, although Luis Suarez did have a goal disallowed for offside when he skilfully diverted Lionel Messi's free kick past Vicente Guaita on the volley.
Getafe had arguably the best opening before the break as Jose Angel isolated Barcelona debutant Yerry Mina and created room for a shot which rolled a few yards wide of the post.
Guaita was worked twice by long-range Philippe Coutinho strikes at the beginning of the second period, but was not anywhere as busy as he may have expected to be until the final 15 minutes in Catalonia.
Colombian defender Mina was a constant threat from set pieces and had a couple of chances in quick succession, firstly heading straight at Guaita and then into the ground and just wide with the keeper beaten.
Messi did not have his usual influence on the game but came to life in the final 15 minutes, going close from a free kick and then forcing Guaita into a parry, with Jordi Alba hitting the follow-up off target.
Fittingly it was the flawless Guaita, who will join Crystal Palace on a free transfer at the end of the season, who had the final say as he tipped Suarez's header over the crossbar in stoppage time.
Despite this slip up, Barcelona have a seven-point cushion over Atletico Madrid at the top of the table.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Digne, Mina, Alba; Busquets (Paulinho, 82'), Rakitic, Coutinho (Iniesta, 62'); Suarez, Messi, Alcacer (Dembele, 63')
GETAFE (4-5-1): Guaita; Suarez, Bruno, Dakonam, Vitorino Antunes; Fajr, Arambarri, Portillo, Shibasaki (Portillo, 88), Diedhiou (Molina, 85'); Angel (Flamini, 78')
Joe Fish
