Getafe 1-0 Real Sociedad: Late own-goal brings the joy back to Madrid

1-0 Iñigo Martínez (og) 80' 

Getafe leave it late but prevail in an even encounter at the Coliseum...
... Fortunate own-goal could see Geta end the weekend 11 points clear of the drop...

Getafe banished the demons of last year's 4-0 reversal in this fixture by taking a somewhat fortunate three-point haul from Real Sociedad.

Although the visitors had the best of the first half, the Azulones enjoyed more of the second and were rewarded with the game's only goal ten minutes from time.

La Real were unfortunate not to take the lead after twelve minutes when a long ball over the top found the Geta defence at sixes and sevens, but with Miguel Ángel Moyà far off his line and supine, Asier 'Illara' Illaramendi could only roll the ball wide when faced with goal.

From there the visitors' dominance only grew. Geta held most of the possession but could do little with it other than invite pressure, which the visiting side time and again used to trouble Moyà.

Early in the second period Alexis had the best chance of the match when he met an excellent through pass over the top from Mehdi Lacen, but the on-loan stopper fired off-target when one-on-one with Claudio Bravo.

It seemed as though a draw was inevitable, but ten minutes from time Abdel Barrada swept a cross through from the right flank to Dani Güiza. The striker in turn shot on goal, where Bravo's parry deflected off the head of Iñigo Martínez and into the net.

That turned out to be the winner, and as such Getafe took another massive step on the road to survival. With 35 points the Madrid outfit are 11 clear of the dropzone, albeit with Racing Santander in 18th yet to play.

Last year saw an unusually high amount of points - 44 - required for survival: Geta can now realistically aim slightly higher and thus avoid a last-day attempt at la permanencia.

Getafe: Moyà; Valera, Rafa (Miguel Torres 42), Alexis, Mané; Míchel, Lacen; Pedro León (Casquero 84), Abdel Barrada, Diego Castro; Miku (Güiza 66). Real Sociedad: Bravo; Estrada, Demidov, Martínez, Cadamuro; Illarramendi, Bergara (Elustondo 15); Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza (Agirretxe 83), Griezmann; Carlos Vela (Ifrán 71).

Villarreal 1-2 Getafe: Overdue win comes with a hint of luck

0-1 Diego Castro 5'
1-1 Nilmar 45' (pen.)
1-2 Abdel Barrada 72'

Getafe take their chances and Villarreal don't, making for an away win...
... Borja Valero's first ever VCF penalty miss helps Geta to first win since January...

Getafe finally got back to winning ways after edging a fraught thriller at the Madrigal on Monday night. Had the hosts taken their chances the outcome could have been quite different, but coach Luis García will be delighted to see his side show both guts and luck to take all three points back to the capital from the Valencian Community.

With both Pedro León and Diego Castro starting it didn't take long for Getafe to show attacking intent, and they duly went ahead after just five minutes. It was Diego Castro who netted after poor defending from Villarreal and good work from Abdel Barrada and Miku in the buildup.

Defensive midfielder Míchel nearly gave away the lead twelve minutes later after conceding a needless penalty against Jaume Costa, but Borja Valero's poor penalty was saved by Miguel Ángel Moyà.

After more pressure something had to give, and it came on the stroke of half-time. Cata Díaz's poorly-timed challenge on Nilmar in the box saw the Yellow Submarine earn their second penalty of the game, and the Brazilian made no mistake from the spot.

Villarreal were superior for much of the second half, but their profligacy was summed up in the 68th minute when the hitherto-excellent Cani made a storming run down the right, leaving the Getafe back line in his wake, before shooting into the side netting from point-black range.

Five minutes later, and against the run of play, Abdel Barrada gave Getafe their second lead of the game. The young Parisien slid home from close range after Pedro León played the first-time pass from Diego Castro's excellent build-up.



With this result Getafe earn some much-needed respite from the relegation battle, moving into 13th place with 32 points. Villarreal, meanwhile, remain 17th on 27, just three points ahead of Racing and Sporting in the dropzone.

Villarreal: Diego López; Ángel López, Gonzalo (Marco Ruben 61), Zapata, Jaume Costa; Marcos Senna, Bruno; Cani, Borja Valero, Camuñas; Nilmar (Joselu 69). Getafe: Moyà; Valera, Cata Díaz, Alexis, Mané; Míchel, Lacen; Pedro León (Casquero 74), Abdel Barrada, Diego Castro; Miku (Dani Güiza 69).

Getafe 1-3 Málaga: Hosts can't hold their lead against big-spending boquerones

1-0 Diego Castro 42'
1-1 Eliseu 57'
1-2 Toulalan 81'
1-3 Cazorla 90+2'

Getafe flirting with the dropzone after two points dropped...
... Margin of victory flatters Málaga but their strikes were beautiful...

Quality told as Getafe failed to upset the odds against European contenders Málaga at the Coliseum on Saturday evening, the visitors taking all three points courtesy of three beautiful goals.

Overall Geta can be pleased with their performance but they must ask themselves why they failed to take their chances, especially early in the match.

Indeed, Miku spurned a host of opportunities in the first quarter hour, although Salamón Rondón had chances of his own at the other end.

After some thrilling end-to-end action it was Getafe who drew first blood. The on-form Juan Valera made the difference with a superb run down the right flank before crossing to Diego Castro, who swept home from eight yards.

Málaga brought out the heavy guns at the break, introducing Joaquín and Eliseu to energise the flanks. This took just twelve minutes to bear fruit: Eliseu equalised neatly following his fellow substitute's corner, Getafe left to rue not burying more than one of their twelve shots on goal taken already.

The visitors began to take control of the match and were duly rewarded through Jérémy Toulalan nine minutes from time. The French international struck clean and true, his shot from 25 yards grazing Miguel Ángel Moyà's post en route to the winner.

With just one minute to go Natxo Monreal appeared to handle the ball inside his own box, but referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco waved play on.

Santi Cazorla added insult to injury with the game-killing third mere seconds before full-time. The ex-Villarreal man saw Moyà off his line and from almost 45 yards lobbed the 'keeper to seal all three points.

Getafe are in deep trouble as they end the weekend just five points clear of the relegation area, and with Granada and Villarreal still to play this matchday Geta could end as low as 17th prior to round 27's vital clash at the Madrigal against Villarreal.

Getafe: Moyà, Valera, Cata Díaz, Alexis, Mané; Abdel Barrada (Sarabia 62), Juan Rodríguez, Lacen; Diego Castro (Pedro León 80); Miku (Arizmendi 68), Güiza. Málaga: Caballero; Jesus Gámez, Weligton, Mathijsen, Monreal; Toulalan, Recio (Joaquín 46); Cazorla, Fernández (Demichelis 70), Isco (Eliseu 46); Rondón.