Getafe 2-0 Almería: Routine home win lifts Azulones from the dropzone

1-0 Colunga 5'

2-0 Pedro Ríos 53'

Almería no match for the Madrid side as Getafe pick up a vital three points with ease...

... Only downside on a successful day is that relegation rivals keep on picking up points...

It was a must-win game, and won it was. Getafe's 2-0 victory over Almería was never in doubt, and the capital club's hopes of survival remain alive, if only just.

Getafe welcomed Derek Boateng back to their ranks, with Miku joining Adrián Colunga up front in an attacking formation. Almería, seeking to avoid the seemingly inevitable relegation that awaits them, lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Henok Goitom looking to add to his single league goal this season and the near-ever-present Albert Crusat set to provide most of the attacking threat down the left.

The hosts' jangled nerves were partially settled as the fifth minute as Colunga managed an all-too-rare goal. On the counter-attack, the on-form Pedro Ríos strode up the right flank before cutting the ball across goal to the unmarked striker, who side-footed with ease into an empty next.

Even was the rest of the first period, with neither side threatening overmuch but instead enjoying a succession of half-chances.

That all changed minutes into the second half when Getafe added a second. Again it came down the right flank, this time Víctor Sánchez breaking forward to cross for Adrián Sardinero. The youngster could only get a touch on it, but it was enough to direct the ball towards Pedro Ríos, who tapped in at the far post.

Getafe ran the game out in relative comfort, with only a shot from José Ulloa troubling the woodwork. However a knock to Pedro Ríos late on necessitated the introduction of Borja and also threw the winger into doubt for the midweek journey to Real Madrid.

Spirits will be high for that encounter - Getafe have won there in the past, after all - but the fact that the Azulones' relegation rivals just keep on winning and drawing is bound to be a source of concern. It is incumbent on Geta to pick up points wherever and whenever they can - starting with at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Marcano, Mané; Pedro Ríos (Borja 80), Boateng, Víctor Sánchez, Adrián Sardinero (Parejo 62); Miku (Arizmendi 73), Colunga. Almería: Esteban; Míchel Macedo, Carlos García, Pellerano, Luna; Bernadello, Corona (José Ortiz 61); Juanma Ortiz, Kalu Uche (Ulloa 60), Crusat (Vargas 66); Goitom.

Jornada 16: Almería 2-3 Getafe

1-0 Kalu Uche 7'
2-0 Ulloa 24'
2-1 Manu del Moral 29'
2-2 Miku 48'
2-3 Boateng 70'

Stunning Getafe fightback ensures fourth consecutive Liga win
Azulones to finish the weekend no lower than seventh

Getafe pulled off a remarkable 3-2 win at Almería on Sunday afternoon, picking up all three points despite being two goals down midway through the first half.

The Madrid side's spirit and technical proficiency was clearly evident from the half-hour mark onwards, with some excellent attacking play both out wide and through the middle being on display.

Coach Míchel - who as recently as a month ago was said to be fearing for his job - must now be considered some of Spain's hottest property after his charges propelled themselves to sixth place in the standings as of full time, with Atlético Madrid still to play.



Things seemed to be going the way of the relegation-threatened hosts when after seven minutes Kalu Uche - brother of former Getafe striker Ikechukwu - opened the scoring. The Nigerian was left unmarked in the middle of the box to head home Albert Crusat's floated cross from the left wing.

Leo Ulloa doubled the hosts' tally shortly afterwards with a tap-in following a goalmouth scramble in which the visitors failed to clear their lines.

Geta skipper Manu del Moral halved the deficit mere minutes later with a great solo effort from inside the box. The former Atleti forward broke through the corner of the area before sweeping a narrow-angled shot past Diego Alves into the far post.

From here Getafe went on to dominate, playing some of their best football of the season so far. The only surprise was that it took them so long to equalise. The vital leveler came just after the break, on-form Miku firing the ball through Alves' legs after Pedro Ríos' original effort was blocked.

The whole team was singing by this point and it fell to one of the impressive midfielders - Derek Boateng - to finish the job. Twenty minutes from time the Ghanaian scored a typically cool goal with a back-heel following Manu's excellent cut-back.

Almería poured forward in the final minutes but in fact the best chance fell to Pedro Ríos, who perhaps selfishly opted to shoot after a defensive error from the hosts gifted him the chance to slide the ball to the unmarked Miku.

Either way, every man in a blue shirt today can be proud of his performance. So too can those in suits and tracksuits: not for nothing did Boateng immediately rush to embrace coach Míchel upon scoring the winner.

Almería: Diego Alves; Juanma Ortiz, Carlos García, Acasiete, Jakobsen; Piatti, Mbami, Corona (Valeri 61), Crusat (José Ortiz 72); Ulloa, Kalu Uche.

Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres, Rafa, Marcano, Mané; Boateng, Parejo (Casquero 85); Pedro Ríos (Arizmendi 90), Manu, Gavilán (Víctor Sánchez 78); Miku.

Almeria 1-0 Getafe Video

A very disappointing result - defeat to Almeria in such a fashion is not encouraging.

We Are Staying Up!

Wow. Just wow.

Remember when Geta went 2-0 up against Mallorca only to lose 4-2? Well, imagine that in reverse, because Almería a;lso hit an early brace only to suffer at the hands of their hosts.

This time, though, it was the good guys! Albín, Manu, Manu again, and then Granero sealed the goals that might just keep us up this season.

45 points should be enough - especially since Recreativo and Osasuna lost - but it's not certain.

In the meantime, though, AUPA GETA!

Feliz Navidad

Merry Christmas, one and all.

Getafe spanked Almeria 2-0 on Saturday evening, and David Belenguer has been called up to the Catalan national side to face the Basque Country on Saturday in Bilbao. Other than that, there's really not much news.

Oh, Oscar Ustari wants to leave. Valencia calling?