Saturday 29 October 2011

Valencia 3-1 Getafe: Draw streak ends with merited loss at Mestala

1-0 Feghouli 12'
1-1 Diego Castro 24'
2-1 Feghouli 26'
3-1 Aduriz 75'

Sofiane Feghouli masterclass puts Geta on the back foot...
... In a game of few chances the visitors deserved nothing and got it...

Getafe's poor record at the Mestalla showed no signs of abating on Saturday evening as hosts Valencia strolled to an easy win over their visitors.

A wonderful performance from dynamic midfielder Sofiane Feghouli saw Geta outfought and outthought, despite their managing to equalise early on in what proved to be a sedate yet one-sided contest.

Feghouli gave Valencia the lead after 12 minutes, firing home a bouncing effort from the edge of the box after good work from Éver Banega down the right flank.

Geta leveled with their first attack of the game midway through the half, Juan Valera's cross being tipped on by Dani Güiza for Diego Castro to flick home from close range.

But barely had the visiting fans time to sit down before Valencia were back in front. That man Feghouli was at it again with another fierce drive to give los Che a lead that they would not then surrender.

Despite enjoying the best of the game it took substitute Aritz Aduriz until 15 minutes from time to put the result beyond doubt. The Basque forward made no mistake from Éver Banega's through pass and sentenced Getafe to their 10th game without a win this season.

This match saw the start of a reasonably tough run of matches for Geta that continues with the derby against Atlético Madrid next weekend at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

For that fixture, much like this one, Getafe must do without Pedro León, who is out for a month and a half after undergoing knee surgery.

Valencia: Guaita; Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Mathieu; Albelda, Banega; Pablo Hernández, Jonas (Piatti 76), Feghouli (Jordi Alba 55); Soldado (Aduriz 61).

Getafe: Moyà; Miguel Torres (Miku 61), Cata Díaz, Lopo, Mané; Rubén Pérez (Lacen 46), Míchel; Valera, Abdel, Diego Castro; Güiza.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Getafe 2-2 Osasuna: Güiza goals can't prevent another draw

0-1 Ibra 7'
1-1 Güiza 62'
1-2 Ibra 66'
2-2 Güiza 75'

Dani Güiza off the mark, but Geta make it four without a win...
... Third consecutive draw at least sees the Azulones rack up much-needed goals...

Dani Güiza's first goals since returning to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez twice saw Getafe come from behind to secure a point against an Osasuna side who remain four points clear of their Wednesday hosts.

Seven minutes in, Getafe's relegation struggles looked set to continue as Ibrahim 'Ibra' Balde netted his first goal in Osasuna colours, his innocuous-looking header from a Raúl García cross somehow snaking past home 'keeper Miguel Moyà.

Getafe looked by far the better side for the remainder of the first period, with on-form Miku and Diego Castro both passing up fine opportunities. Home coach Luis García, tiring of missed chances, opted to bring on striker Dani Güiza seven minutes after the break in place of Pedro Ríos.

This change paid dividends after just five minutes as the Euro 2008 winner hit his 21st league goal for Geta to kick-start his second spell at the club. After seeing his header blocked by Sergio, Güiza unleashed a rocket goalwards from the edge of the area to level the score.

Four minutes after that Osasuna were ahead again, Ibra once more proving the culprit with a header. This time his effort was superb and had Moyà - as well as marker Cata Díaz - well beaten.

But Güiza came to the rescue a quarter-hour from time with his second equaliser, heading in unmarked a Miguel Torres cross to secure a share of the spoils.

Getafe thus end the midweek round in 17th place, two clear of the three sides occupying the dropzone. A weekend visit to the Mestalla to face top-four Valencia now awaits the Madrid outfit, who are sorely in need of a second win.

Getafe: Moyà; Varela, Cata Díaz, Lopo, Miguel Torres; Rubén Pérez (Míchel 71), Lacen (Sarabía 71); Pedro Ríos (Güiza 52), Abdel, Diego Castro; Miku.

Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Marc Bertrán, Lolo, Sergio, Raitala; Puñal, Nekounam, Raúl García (Timor 73); Álvaro Cejudo (Damiá 71), Nino, Ibra.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Real Sociedad 0-0 Getafe: Visitors on top, but no goals yet again

Another clean sheet, but lack of goal threat sees Geta fail to pick up the points...
... The hosts were favourites but saw less of the game than the Madrid side...

A dull and disappointing clash at Anoeta saw Getafe fail to take advantage of the inadequacy of Real Sociedad as this early season encounter ended in a 0-0 draw.

Geta 'keeper Miguel Moyà had scarcely a save to make, while the visitors' profligacy saw Carlos Bravo at the other end given a quieter afternoon than he perhaps merited.

Both Miku and Pedro León were unfortunate not to appear on the scoresheet but Getafe had only themselves to blame for their problems - and the continuation of their worrying start to the season.

Getafe return to the Coliseum to face Osasuna on Wednesday evening in their next Liga clash.

Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Demidov, Iñigo Martínez, De la Bella; Mariga, Zurutuza; Xabi Prieto (Cadamuro 82), Ifrán (Llorente 64), Griezmann; Agirretxe (Carlos Vela 75.)

Getafe: Moyà; Varela, Cata Díaz, Lopo, Miguel Torres; Lacen, Rubén Pérez; Pedro Ríos (Abdel 64), Diego Castro, Sarabía (Pedro León 70); Miku (Güiza 86).



Note: This report was published on 26 October due to vacation.

Saturday 15 October 2011

Getafe 0-0 Villarreal: A clean sheet, but no joy against off-form Yellow Submarine

Getafe can't take advantage of first-half pressure against struggling visitors...
... A nervy end to the match saw a draw as perhaps the fairest outcome...


The 0-0 scoreline at the Coliseum belied a spirited contest as Getafe and Villarreal battled to a 0-0 draw in La Liga. For both sides this was a missed opportunity to pick up much-needed points after a disappointing start to the season.

Dani Güiza seemed odds-on to net his first goal in his second spell in a Getafe shirt, but despite his energy and a host of chances in the first period he ended the half goalless.

Adrián Colunga was given a rare introduction in the second half, but the latter 45 was the story of Villarreal, who themselves passed up clear opportunities to grab a much-needed win.

Getafe's quest for points continues with a visit to the Basque Country to face Real Sociedad next weekend.

Getafe: Codina; Varela, Cata Díaz, Lopo, Miguel Torres; Rubén Pérez, Casquero (Míchel 71); Pedro Ríos, Sarabia, Diego Castro (Miku 87); Güiza (Colunga 55).


Villarreal: Diego López; Zapata, Gonzalo, Marchena, Catalá; Marcos Senna (Wakaso 46), Bruno; Borja Valero, De Guzmán (Joselu 81), Cani (Hernán Pérez 79); Rossi.


Note: This report was published on 26 October due to vacation.

Saturday 1 October 2011

Málaga 3-2 Getafe: Crazy second half sees ten-man Geta denied at the death yet again

0-1 Pedro León 56'
1-1 Van Nistelrooy 64'
1-2 Miku 75'
2-2 Maresca 88'
3-2 Julio Baptista 90+2'

Getafe can't hold their nerve as Málaga's late rally ends hopes of an upset...
... A thrilling second half sees the hosts manage a dramatic victory...

A match full of incident and controversy saw ten-man Getafe twice lose the lead to a diligent but largely unimaginative Málaga side at the Rosaleda, the hosts eventually running out 3-2 winners thanks to a spark of genius from Julio Baptista.

The big-spending coastal outfit were pre-match favourites but needed a one-man advantage and two late goals to secure a victory that, on the basis of their stature and start to the match, should have been assured. In this respect Geta made their work hard for them.

However, home fans may argue that the Azulones were lucky to be in the game for as long as they were. Referee Álvarez Izquierdo had a shocker, allowing a Geta goal that should have been ruled out, debatably missing penalties for both sides, and issuing a second booking to Mehdi Lacen amidst circumstances that suggested he'd long since lost control of the game.

After Málaga's strong start, Pedro León had a great shout for a penalty turned down after 17 minutes, and seconds later at the other end Julio Baptista had a better claim of his own similarly refused after a heavy challenge from Cata Díaz.

Geta were throughout under pressure deep in defence in the first half, with Cata Díaz oscilating between the frazzled and the firm. He and partner Alberto Lopo both picked up bookings for crunching challenges, betraying the pressure they were under.

But in fact Jordi Codina had relatively little to do: a couple of routine saves from low drives, and a few gathered, speculative crosses were the worst he had to contend with. Despite dominating possession, then, the Boquerones were unable to make the breakthrough.

Perhaps losing self-belief, Málaga slowed down early in the second period and were duly punished ten minutes after the break thanks to Pedro León. The prodigal son took a knock-down on his knee and teed up a volley that deflected slightly off Martín Demichelis and flew past the helpless Willy Caballero from 25 yards.

Geta's lead would prove to be short-lived as, despite some heroics on the goal-line from Cata Díaz, Ruud van Nistelrooy was able to bundle home a tap-in following Joaquín's out-swinging free kick from the right flank.

Referee Álvarez Izquierdo had all evening been flashing the cards in the direction of Getafe players but nonetheless had earned the ire of the Málaga faithful due to his seeming inability to spot a foul. Thus it seemed as the industrious Juan Varela barged his way down the flank before floating in a perfect cross for substitute Miku, who in turn launched the perfect header past Caballero.

At this point all hell went loose. Caballero claimed passionately for handball - and seeing the replay, he had a point. Miku connected with his head, certainly, but with his arm out the ball actually took a deflection en route to goal and should have been ruled out. Meanwhile Mehdi Lacen was sent off for a second bookable offence, apparently for talking back to the referee. Amidst the melee, the goal stood.

Down to ten men for the remaining minutes, Luis García brought on Juan Rodríguez in place of young Abdel in an attempt to reinforce a midfield in danger of being overrun. Shortly afterwards Pedro Ríos replaced his namesake León, presumably with an eye towards the counter-attack.

But this failed to have the desired effect. Two minutes from time the previously-solid Codina dithered in his six-yard box at a corner, blocking a near-post header but permitting the largely unmarked Enzo Maresca to tap in for the equaliser.

Halfway through the four minutes of stoppage time Getafe's hearts were broken by Julio Baptista. The former Real Madrid midfielder unleashed a fierce and accurate overhead kick into the top corner from twelve yards, sending the Rosaleda crowd wild and dooming the visitors to yet another late defeat.

After the international break Getafe - flirting with the dropzone on four points - welcome Villarreal to the Coliseum.

Málaga: Caballero; Jordi Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Eliseu; Toulalan, Duda (Isco 57); Joaquín (Maresca 67), Julio Baptista, Cazorla; Van Nistelrooy (Rondón 74).

Getafe: Codina; Calera, Cata Díaz, Lopo, Mané; Rubén Pérez, Lacen; Pedro León (Pedro Ríos 83), Abdel (Juan Rodríguez 77), Diego Castro; Güiza (Miku 69).
Sent Off: Lacen 76 (2nd booking; dissent)