La Liga: Getafe frustrate Barca as both sides see red in 0-0 draw

Referee Cesar Soto Grado shows a red card to FC Barcelona’s Raphinha (right) in Getafe, Spain, on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images

Spanish champions Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a frustrating 0-0 draw at Getafe on Sunday, with both sides reduced to 10 men in a bad-tempered clash.

Barca winger Raphinha was sent off for an elbow in the first half and Getafe's Jaime Mata was dismissed early in the second for two yellow cards.

Xavi Hernandez earned a red card himself for touchline complaints as his Barcelona side battled to find a late winner but, like last season, they started their domestic campaign with a goalless draw.

The coach handed debuts to summer signings Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu as Barcelona began their campaign with one of the most uncomfortable away trips of the season.

"It's normal that people don't want to watch football, this has barely been a game. A point for us is not sufficient but this was a very difficult game for us to play," Xavi told reporters.

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