AFP/Barcelona

Barcelona’s La Liga title hopes suffered a blow as they fell four points behind leaders Real Madrid after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at Getafe yesterday.
In a bitty first half at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez the visitors were indebted to goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who kept his side on level terms with a top-drawer save from an Angel Lafita effort.
Barca improved after the break and piled on the pressure, yet were unable to find a way past Vicente Guaita with Lionel Messi striking the bar from a free-kick and some resolute defending from the Getafe back line.
In a match played out in unforgiving conditions, Barcelona desperately missed the attacking presence of Neymar, who was absent through an ankle injury, and notably lacked a cutting edge in the final third as they were frustrated by the home side’s defence, who were able to limit the Blaugrana to few clear-cut chances.
The Catalan outfit saw a couple of long-range efforts fly over from Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic, before Messi forced a block from Guaita in the home side’s goal after combining well with the Croatia international as they sought to make the breakthrough.
Guaita could then only punch a cross as far as Pedro Rodriguez on the edge of the box, but the Spain international’s mishit effort was turned just wide by Suarez, who is still looking for his first Liga goal.
Both sides then felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty within a minute of each other as firstly Juan Valera appeared to handle the ball while on the ground as Messi looked to dribble past him, before in the next attack Lafita’s cross struck Dani Alves on the arm.
Referee Inaki Vicandi Garrido was unmoved on both occasions. As the half wore on Getafe took the initiative, and the home side were unlucky to not go into the break leading after Lafita beat Alves and Pique on the edge of the box, only to see a rasping drive somehow tipped round the post by Claudio Bravo at full stretch.
Barcelona came out for the second half with noticeably more attacking intent, and went close to opening the scoring after Messi, who had been brought down by Emiliano Velazquez on the edge of the box, saw a free-kick clatter the crossbar before Suarez fired wildly over from distance.
Guaita then kept out another Messi effort as the pressure grew, with captain Xavi Hernandez volleying just wide and Messi heading over when well positioned.
However, despite the introduction of Andres Iniesta and Munir El Haddadi, they couldn’t find the breakthrough as Getafe held on bravely for a point.
Two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals helped Real Madrid make it 20 consecutive victories in all competitions as they saw off Almeria 4-1 at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos on Friday.
In their final La Liga game of 2014, Los Blancos stretched their lead over Barcelona, who travel to Getafe on Saturday, at the top of the table to five points.
First-half goals from Isco and Gareth Bale either side of Verza’s stunning equaliser sent the visitors in ahead at half-time, but they needed a big save from captain Iker Casillas when he parried Verza’s penalty on the hour mark.
Ronaldo then sealed the win when he turned home crosses from Karim Benzema and Dani Carvajal to take his La Liga tally to 25 goals this season.
“Almeria fought hard and we had a lot of problems during the game as we sought to keep possession. Only at the end of the game were we able to control the ball well and find the goals we needed to finish the match,” said Carlo Ancelotti of his side’s victory.
“Casillas managed to save the penalty in what was a defining moment, and thereafter that it was a little bit easier for us.  
“We’ve had an unforgettable year, winning a lot of titles, especially La Decima (10th Champions League title), and are in a good position in the league. We now go to the Club World Cup with the intentions of winning it.”
The hosts, with caretaker coach Miguel Rivera in charge following Francisco Rodriguez’s dismissal earlier this week, came out of the blocks quickly, and almost made the perfect start.
First Pepe and then Carvajal blocked goalbound close-range efforts from Fernando Soriano and Sebastian Dubarbier within the first three minutes.
After gaining a foothold in the game, Madrid then saw a Toni Kroos volley from outside the area deflected onto the bar by Fran Velez, before Bale failed to find an unmarked Benzema in the six-yard box after breaking down the Andalusian side’s left on the quarter-hour mark.
With the hosts defending resolutely, Madrid’s frustrations began to show, with Bale guilty of a silly challenge that brought a yellow card from referee Alfonso Alvarez Izquierdo.
As ever with Madrid, the calibre of player they possess means they can conjure a goal out of nothing, and that is exactly what happened as they took the lead on 33 minutes.
Benzema’s cross was too long for Ronaldo, but Isco was able to control the ball on his chest before curling an effort beyond the outstretched Ruben Martinez in the Almeria goal from the edge of the box.