Getafe 2-4 Valencia: Another defensive collapse spells crisis at the Coliseum

Defensive calamity sees Getafe throw it all away...
... Relegation a genuine concern at the Coliseum...

Getafe's habit of throwing away leads returned in emphatic fashion on Saturday as Valencia stormed back to take a 4-2 win from the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, with former home favourite Roberto Soldado weighing in with a hat-trick.

On-form Manu del Moral got the ball rolling for Getafe early on with a low drive from the edge of the area after a wonderful one-two with Pablo Mosquera.

But the hosts' joy was to last only seconds after the break, as Soldado was on hand to equalise with a first-time slotted shot under Oscar Ustari after Cata Díaz failed to deal with a fine through ball from Juan Mata.

The ex-Real Madrid man was on target again just after the hour mark with a shot from a similar range and angle, with Jonas this time playing provider past a static Getafe defence for Soldado to take advantage.

Two minutes later Soldado had his hat-trick. Mané's lack of control saw him lose the ball ten yards out from the box, allowing the striker to steal possession and beat Ustari for a third time.

Soldado wasn't finished yet as with thirteen minutes to go Mata once again set up the Spanish international to beat his marker and slot in from close range.

Adrián Sardinero pulled one back with three minutes to go as the tireless Manu del Moral played the young substitute through on goal to fire home at the near post, but it was too little, too late.

With the rest of the relegation pack still to play Getafe are just five points clear of relegation. Next week's trip to Zaragoza is looking increasingly like a make-or-break occasion.

Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Iván Marcano, Mané; Borja (Adrián Sardinero 73), Parejo; Arizmendi (Víctor Sánchez 80), Pablo Mosquera (Pedro Ríos 66), Manu del Moral; Miku. Valencia: César; Bruno, Ricardo Costa (Stankevicius 57), Dealbert, Mathieu (Jordi Alba 81); Mehmet Topal, Tino Costa; Pablo Hernández, Jonas (Maduro 79), Juan Mata; Soldado.