Sporting Gijón 2-0 Getafe: Winless run continues after whimpering defeat

1-0 De las Cuevas 32'
2-0 André Castro 40'

Hosts easily the better side as Asturians pull to within five points of Geta...
... Safety still not secured for the disappointing visitors...

On paper Getafe played Sunday's fixture in Gijón, but in fact the Azulones were nowhere to be found as Sporting pulled off what must rank among their easiest wins of the season at the Molinón.

From start to finish the Asturian side was firmly in control, with Getafe offering just one shot on goal over the course of the ninety minutes.

The rojiblancos dominated the early exchanges, and the only surprise was that it took then half an hour to take the lead. Miguel de las Cuevas did the honours with a placed strike from the edge of the area that left the impressive Jordi Codina helpless.

Ten minutes later André Castro drilled a shot of his own from the edge of the box, the Porto loanee's effort sailing past Codina to double his side's advantage.

Jaime Gavilán trudged off to be replaced by Javier Arizmendi as visiting coach Míchel looked to turn the tide, Dani Parejo also making way for Javier Casquero at the interval.

Yet Sporting once again came out stronger, and not until the hour mark did misrifing Adrián Colunga threaten to break his lean spell with a mis-hit strike after he led a fine counter-attack.

Arizmendi - eager to prove his worth after a season spent largely on the bench - then came close, but Sporting closed out the match in relative comfort, even after Alberto Lora's needless second yellow card for dissent.

Getafe will end the weekend seven points clear of the dropzone, yet the Madrid outfit urgently need to start picking up points if they're to meet their goal of avoiding relegation prior to the final matchdays.

Next Monday's home game against Athletic Bilbao may be their last chance to do so for a while, given that the following two encounters are against Barcelona and Valencia.

Sporting: Cuéllar; Lora, Botía, Iván Hernández; Canella; Rivera, Nacho Cases; De las Cuevas (José Ángel 82), André Castro (Mate Bilic 87), Diego Castro (Luis Morán 72); David Barral. Red Card: Lora 86' (second yellow card) Getafe: Codina; Víctor Sánchez, Rafa, Miguel Torres, Marcano; Manu del Moral, Boateng, Parejo (Casquero 46), Gavilán (Arizmendi 42); Colunga, Miku (Pedro Ríos 61.)

Getafe 1-1 Atlético Madrid: Geta can't hold their nerve in Madrid derby

1-0 Manu del Moral 3'
1-1 Elías 81'

Early lead not enough as Geta make it four without a win...
... Fine start canceled out by late concession...

Getafe shared the points with near-neighbours Atlético Madrid in Wednesday's city derby, with one goal apiece securing the draw.

Overall this was a less than encouraging match for fans of both sides. Neither club is currently firing on all cylinders and this was painfully evident at the Coliseum.

Still, it was perhaps inevitable that Manu del Moral would provide one of the rare moments of excitement. The former Atleti man, linked with a return to the Vicente Calderón, opened the scoring after just three minutes with a fine chip from the edge of the box over the helpless David De Gea.

The Colchoneros attempted to put the pressure on but Geta enjoyed the best of the first half, the interplay between Manu and Miku creating one chance that the former failed to bury in the 26th minute. Shortly afterward home left-back Mané was removed due to injury.

José Antonio Reyes almost equalised on the stroke of the interval, and this was a taste of things to come as the visitors improved in the second period.

They eventually got what they were looking for nine minutes from time when Elías netted his first goal for the club with a header from ten yards following Diego Forlán's cross. For Getafe this was the third late goal shipped in four games.

Dani Parejo was denied a dramatic winner by David De Gea as the clock ran down.

Atleti remain two points above Getafe on 35. The Azulones face a trip to struggling Sporting Gijón on Sunday as they attempt to wrap up safety from relegation early.

Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Rafa, Mané (Marcano 30); Manu, Víctor Sánchez (Boateng 65), Parejo, Gavilán; Colunga (Casquero 77), Miku. Atlético: De Gea; Valera, Perea, Godín, Antonio López; Reyes, Raúl García (Mario Suárez 63), Tiago (Juanfran 82), Koke (Elías 66); Forlán, Agüero.