Green Shoots of La Masia Recovery Noticeable in Barcelona Romp

Barcelona against Getafe was always going to be a one-sided affair given the hosts were unbeaten in 36 games going into the game and their visitors had failed to score in six of their last seven.

The comprehensive nature of Saturday's victory even allowed for another Lionel Messi missed penalty and the woodwork to save Fran Escriba's side on two further occasions.

It's hard to read too much into the performance other than noting the Catalans fulfilled all of the pre-match expectations.

Six goals scored and none conceded means a healthy upward trajectory in the goal-difference column, and the win kept Barca pinned to the top by the same points difference after nearest rivals Atletico Madrid ensured the win against Deportivo La Coruna.

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Messi's goal and assists and Neymar's fine contribution—two goals—will keep the headline writers happy. The second coming, as it were, of Masia graduates should keep the masses happy.

Munir El Haddadi is finally beginning to find his feet at this level. His goal was the sixth from his last six appearances.

Sergi Roberto, too, has become something of a mainstay of this team during 2015/16, and his performance level once again justified Luis Enrique's inclusion of the versatile midfielder.

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The green shoots of recovery of the academy were noticeable once Andres Iniesta made way for Sergi Samper to make his Primera Division debut for the club.

Some might suggest it's been a long time coming, but such criticism won't faze a manager who is, by some distance, the best Barca have ever had.

Although the quality of the opposition must be taken into account, Samper looked completely at home in the central role he has played with aplomb for the B team.

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And moreover, all three appeared to be enjoying the occasion.

Marc Bartra's introduction further evidenced a growing reliance on homegrown players, albeit in his case it could just be a shop window exercise.

Anthony Chapman of the Sun recently noted both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the player, Chapman quoting technical director Robert Fernandez:

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We have many good players and it is difficult to compete in a team like Barcelona.

For us anyway, Bartra is a major player. He will always be in our plans and future ideas.

He was born and raised in our home, but his personal situation could lead to a separation from the club.

"

Such a move would hardly come as a surprise given how little the centre-back has featured over the past few seasons—WhoScored.com shows the 25-year-old has started just 14 league games in the last two campaigns.

JM Diaz of Sport noted the player's supposed importance to the club, and Bartra could be forgiven for thinking that some more match time would subsequently be forthcoming:

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FC Barcelona will not let Marc Bartra leave the club in the winter transfer window, under strict instruction from coach Luis Enrique Martinez. 

Sevilla want the defender on loan, but the coach wants to keep Barcelona at the club to give himself more options in defence and make sure there is sufficient back-up. 

Lucho considers Bartra important in his squad [...] Bartra, for his part, wants to play more football and a Sevilla switch would allow that, as he tries to build up form to win a place in Del Bosque's Euro 2016 Spain side.

"

That it hasn't means that a parting of ways seems the most sensible option.

That's a minor setback for those supporters keen to see the team featuring as many club products as possible.

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It's worth dwelling on the amount of talent waiting in the wings—players such as Wilfried Kaptoum, Gerard Gumbau and Juan Camara—rather than focusing on the fact Alejandro Grimaldo, Aitor Cantalapiedra et al. have had to move on to gain the necessary experience.

Both Rafinha and Sandro Ramirez will be available once over their respective injuries. They are two more from the farmhouse, a veritable production line that doesn't stop churning out quality.

They'll not all make it to the promised land of Barca's first team, but any suggestion La Masia is finished is more than a little wide of the mark.