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.