Barcelona forward Neymar suffered an ankle injury in the team’s Copa del Rey win on Thursday night making him a doubt for their Champions League game against Manchester City in a month’s time.
Lionel Messi lit-up the last-16 second leg which Barça won 2-0 making it 6-0 on aggregate by scoring twice and revived memories of one of his greatest ever goals – also scored against Getafe – with the second strike. But the night was soured by Neymar’s set-back.
Barça visit the Etihad on February 18 in the first knockout round of the Champions League but the Brazilian could struggle to make the trip after turning badly on his right ankle.
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Agony: Neymar sprained his peroneal tendon in his right ankle and had to be carried off
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Injury blow: Neymar had to be carried off by Barcelona's medical staff as Barca won 2-0
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Sent flying: Neymar is upended after a hefty challenge from Getafe defender Alexis Ruano
However Barca coach Gerardo Martino played down the extent of the injury after the match. He has a tear to a 'tendon of his right ankle', said a club statement, and further tests will be carried out on Friday.
'The situation didn't look good when you saw it happen and you thought he might be out for a while but thank God it is not as serious as it appeared and he'll be back playing soon,' he told a news conference.
'The doctors after the game have said it is not so bad and so if tests confirm it then it is not something serious.'
Neymar could put no weight on his right foot as he hobbled off sockless at Getafe’s Alfonso Perez Colisuem after turning awkwardly as he tried to cross from the byline, and early estimates of the seriousness of the injury suggest the player could be between three or four weeks out leaving him short of match fitness for the double-header with City.
It was a game of comebacks for Barcelona with Leo Messi making his first start for two months and Neymar starting his first match since December 17.
Messi almost scored after just four minutes from Neymar's pass and the Argentine then sent a free-kick just over.
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Back in business: Lionel Messi netted twice in his first start since recovering from injury
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Taking them all on: Messi dribbles his way through the Getafe defence as Barca stormed to the quarter-finals
Getafe did beat Barça 4-0 in the Cup in 2007, and knew the same result would take the game to extra-time. But they offered little going forward as Barça dominated the first half.
Barcelona took the lead on the night just before the break when Messi turned in Tello’s cross to score his 17th goal of the season.
Tello almost made it two at the start of the second half but fired Dani Alves’ cross high and wide on the volley. Messi then got his second bursting through Getafe’s rearguard bypassing four defenders and goalkeeper Jordi Codina to score.
It was not quite the incredible goal he scored against Getafe in 2007 when he ran from the halfway line in a carbón copy of Diego Maradona’s goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico but it was a flash of that same brilliance and proof that he is well and truly back.
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In action: Dani Alves (right) attempts to guide the ball away from Getafe midfielder Angel Lafita
Barcelona had rested midfielder Xavi for the game but brought him on midway through the second half to make his 700th appearance for the club. There is still no one better at keeping possession and with him in charge Barcelona controlled the last 20 minutes with Messi denied a hat-trick by a fine save from Codina.
They now play Levante in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and Real Sociedad or Racing Santander await them in the semis, with both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the other half of the draw.
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Barcelona playmaker Xavi came off the bench against Getafe on Thursday to mark his 700th appearance for the club where he has been a key figure in their success in recent seasons.
The 33-year-old came through Barcelona's famous La Masia youth system and was given his debut by Louis van Gaal in 1998.
Following the arrival of Pep Guardiola as coach in 2008, Xavi enjoyed most success as the lynchpin of Barca's quick-passing football, known as tiki-taka.
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Legend: Xavi (left) lifts the 2009 La Liga trophy with club captain Carles Puyol (right) at the Camp Nou
Xavi has won 22 trophies at Barcelona including three Champions Leagues and seven La Liga titles.
He has also been a key member of the Spanish national side that won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
'I am proud to have played so many games and Barca is the best club to be at,' Xavi told Mundo Deportivo.
'I have experienced the worst and the best in the history of Barca. The dry spell (from 1999-2004) and then the run of success where we won the triple (2008-09), the six trophies (in 2009) and the three Champions Leagues'
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