Sunday 26 August 2012

Getafe 2-1 Real Madrid: Gutsy Geta come from behind to seal famous win

0-1 Higuaín 27'
1-1 Juan Valera 53'
2-1 Abdel Barrada 75'

Hosts turn on the style in the second half to pick up first win of the season...
... Visiting champions laid low despite enjoying a fine first period...

Real Madrid were stunned by giant-killing Getafe on Sunday afternoon after surrendering a Gonzalo Higuaín lead to the home outfit, who leveled through Juan Valera before Abdel Barrada netted the winner fifteen minutes from time.

The visitors were by far the better team in the first half and should have taken the lead after nine minutes when Mesut Özil almost sprung Cristiano Ronaldo clean through in the box, only for David Abraham to sweep in and clear at the last moment.

Six minutes later the Blancos produced the most beautiful play of the afternoon, Özil and Ronaldo trading passes several times around the area before the young German was free to shoot. However, the ex-Hamburg man inexplicably hit the woodwork when faced with an open goal.

Midway through the first half Gonzalo Higuaín finally found the net for Madrid, getting on the end of Ángel di María's excellent through ball, waltzing past Abraham and Alexis, and placing the ball past Miguel Moyà.

Geta had Moyà to thank four minutes from the break after an excellent stop from Cristiano Ronaldo, who was once again fed by the tireless Özil.

For the hosts the end of the first period was a relief, and they began the second half with renewed vigour. This paid off in short order as the brilliant Abdel Barrada's free-kick found Juan Valera free in the box to score his first goal since his strike against Barcelona in the 1-0 win of November 2011.

Fifteen minutes from time Abdel Barrada himself was on the scoresheet, capitalising on good play from Adrián Colunga and some sloppy Real Madrid defending to poke home past the helpless Iker Casillas.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a clear opportunity as the match entered stoppage time, and it was all Madrid could do to wonder how they threw away their first half superiority.

Meanwhile Getafe can look back on another famous win over one of the 'Big Two', this one comprising their first three points of the season. This places them above Real Madrid in the table, a situation that, while unlikely to last, is certainly welcome.

Geta travel north next week to face Deportivo in La Coruña, while Real Madrid have until Wednesday to recover for the Super Copa second-leg clash with Barcelona, José Mourinho's side looking to overturn a 3-2 disadvantage from the first match at Camp Nou.


Getafe: Moyà; Juan Valera, Abraham (Lopo 50), Alexis, Miguel Torres; Míchel, Xabi Torres; Abdel Barrada (Mehdi Lacen 84), Lafita, Diego Castro; Miku (Adrián Colunga 69).

Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo (Callejón 73); Lass Diarra (Benzema 58), Xabi Alonso; Di María (Morata 79), Özil, Cristiano Ronaldo; Higuaín.

Saturday 18 August 2012

Sevilla 2-1 Getafe: Not enough as the Nervión men do the needful

1-0 Fazio 34'
2-0 Negredo 38' (pen.)
2-1 Alexis 50'

Getafe fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on La Liga's opening day.

Hosts Sevilla dominated early proceedings and took the lead through Federico Fazio in the 34th minute, the Argentine taking advantage of a misjudged clearance job from Miguel Ángel Moyà and heading into an unguarded net.

Four minutes later Juan Valera conceded a controversial penalty, José Antonio Reyes making the most of an innocuous challenge to earn the spot-kick. Álvaro Negredo converted easily to double Sevilla's advantage.

Just after the restart, former Sevilla defender Alexis Ruano pilled one back for the visitors with a close-range finish from a Pedro León corner.

Getafe coach Luís García threw on Abdel Barrada and Adrián Colunga in an attempt to chase the game, but ultimately Sevilla saw out the game in relative comfort.

Geta welcome champions Real Madrid next weekend in their home opener.

Sevilla: Diego López; Cicinho, Fazio, Spahic, Fernando Navarro; Trochowski (Javi Hervás 83), Gary Medel, Rakitic; Jesús Navas, Negredo (Babá 67), Reyes (Manu del Moral 75).

Getafe: Moyà; Juan Valera, Abraham, Alexis, Miguel Torres; Míchel (Xavi Torres 46), Mehdi Lacen (Adrián Colunga 74); Pedro León, Lafita, Diego Castro (Abdel Barrada 52); Miku.