Real Betis 1-1 Getafe: Betis the better side, but Geta good for a point

1-0 Jorge Molina 51'
1-1 Chechu Dorado (og) 53'

Getafe come from behind in somewhat fortunate circumstances...
... It wasn't a one-sided fixture but Betis didn't dominate either...

An entertaining but still somewhat even game at the Benito Villamarín saw Getafe leave with a welcome point against a Real Betis side who had the better chances on the day.

The first half saw plenty of effort from both sides but relatively few clear-cut opportunities. Rubén Castro had the best chance on the quarter hour mark after good work from Jefferson Montero, but left Miguel Ángel Moyà untested by firing over from the middle of the area.

Mere minutes after the break Jorge Molina gave the hosts the lead. The journeyman striker finished off a neat team move involving Montero and Juanma with a confident finish near the post that left Moyà stranded.

But just three minutes later Geta were level. Chechu Dorado put through his own net with a poor clearance after Dani Güiza got on the end of Juan Valera's cross from the right.

Eight minutes from time the Béticos should have taken the lead as the visiting defence stood static at a fine ball over the top. However Rubén Castro opted to shoot rather than squaring the ball to Roque Santa Cruz, who stood afront an open goal, and Moyà pulled off a fine save to deny the greedy striker.

Returning centre-back Alexis, newly signed on loan from Sevilla for his second spell at Geta, made a substitute appearance a minute from time, but no goal followed and in any case the Azulones did not merit the victory.

Getafe thus finish the week five points above the dropzone ahead of next Sunday's visit of Málaga.

Betis: Fabricio; Nelson, Paulao, Chechu Dorado, Nacho; Juanma (Jonathan Pereira 71), Beñat, Iriney (Cañas 68), Jefferson Montero; Rubén Castro, Jorge Molina (Santa Cruz 59). Getafe: Moyà; Valera, Cata Díaz, Miguel Torres, Mané; Abdel Barrada (Diego Castro 46), Casquero, Lacen, Gavilán (Sarabia 67); Miku (Alexis 89), Dani Güiza.

Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Getafe: Easy win for Vallecas men in local derby

1-0 Michu 34'
2-0 Diego Costa 63'

Getafe simply didn't show up and duly paid the price - with both eleven and ten men...
... Rayo took their chances in a game that they dominated ...

Getafe may have held the giants of Real Madrid to a single goal last week, but this time around the comparative minnows of Rayo managed double that tally in far easier circumstances as the visitors found themselves completely overwhelmed in Vallecas.

The hosts were by far the better side in the first half and perhaps should have had an advantage ten minutes in when Miguel Moyà appeared to fell Piti in the box, but referee Álvarez Izquierdo saw nothing.

Rayo deservedly took the lead ten minutes before the break when Michu was left unmarked in the box to fire a rebounded effort past Moyà after a cross from José Casado. There were suspicions of offside but nonetheless the goal had been coming.

Geta's chances of a fightback were all but extinguished on the hour mark when Míchel was issued a straight red card for what Izquierdo interpreted as a foul preventing clear goalscoring opportunity for Diego Costa - a dubious decision.

And it fell to Diego Costa himself to completely end the game just three minutes later with a neat header from a cross by José Maria Movilla.

Thus Rayo leapfrog Getafe in the standings, going a point ahead of the south side outfit who remain on 27 points.

Next week the second half of Getafe's season begins with the visit of Espanyol to the Coliseum.

Rayo: Joel; Tito, Arribas, Pulido, Casado; Javi Fuego, Movilla; Piti (Lass Bangoura 65), Michu, Armenteros (Diego Benito 86); Diego Costa (Tamudo 72). Getafe: Moyà; Valera (Rafa 69), Cata Díaz, Lopo, Mané; Diego Castro (Lacen 67), Míchel, Casquero (Arizmendi 78), Barrada; Miku, Dani Güiza. Red card: Míchel 60' (Professional foul)