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).

Real Sociedad 0-0 Getafe: Visitors on top, but no goals yet again

Another clean sheet, but lack of goal threat sees Geta fail to pick up the points...
... The hosts were favourites but saw less of the game than the Madrid side...

A dull and disappointing clash at Anoeta saw Getafe fail to take advantage of the inadequacy of Real Sociedad as this early season encounter ended in a 0-0 draw.

Geta 'keeper Miguel Moyà had scarcely a save to make, while the visitors' profligacy saw Carlos Bravo at the other end given a quieter afternoon than he perhaps merited.

Both Miku and Pedro León were unfortunate not to appear on the scoresheet but Getafe had only themselves to blame for their problems - and the continuation of their worrying start to the season.

Getafe return to the Coliseum to face Osasuna on Wednesday evening in their next Liga clash.

Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Demidov, Iñigo Martínez, De la Bella; Mariga, Zurutuza; Xabi Prieto (Cadamuro 82), Ifrán (Llorente 64), Griezmann; Agirretxe (Carlos Vela 75.) Getafe: Moyà; Varela, Cata Díaz, Lopo, Miguel Torres; Lacen, Rubén Pérez; Pedro Ríos (Abdel 64), Diego Castro, Sarabía (Pedro León 70); Miku (Güiza 86).

Note: This report was published on 26 October due to vacation.

Real Sociedad 1-1 Getafe: EL GETA NO BAJA!

0-1 Cata Díaz 9'

1-1 Paco Sutil 65'

Getafe avoid away defeat for the first time in six attempts...

... Cata Díaz's early header the highlight of a dull match - oh, and Getafe stay up...

A stalemate so dull it could have been scripted resulted in a 1-1 draw at Anoeta between Real Sociedad and Getafe, an outcome ensuring that both sides retain their Primera División status.

Deportivo La Coruña drop to the second level instead after a 2-0 home defeat to Valencia, while the Azulones also finish above Mallorca on head-to-head.

Heading into the game neither side was safe from relegation, but Real Sociedad were definitely the more secure of the two. That changed after just nine minutes when Cata Díaz headed home a Juan Ángel Albín free-kick to give the visitors the lead.

La Real were the better side afterwards, and although news had filtered through that both Deportivo and Mallorca were in deep trouble they pushed hard in search of an equaliser.

That came via the head of substitute Paco Sutil, who took advantage of Xabi Prieto's trademark dead-ball delivery to level the scores from close range.

From then on, it was a passing drill. Neither side saw the need to punish the other, nor risk anything by committing men forward, if both were safe. Thus scenes of Gijón 1982 followed as centre-backs passed to full-backs, and back around again.

At full-time Anoeta immediately erupted in celebration. Getafe, knowing how close these things can be, still had some waiting to do: both Mallorca and Deportivo were still playing. The second full-time sounded at San Moix, though, the Geta players rushed to the tiny visiting support - a rare show of unity after a dreadful six months - to celebrate yet another improbable survival.

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And that ends the season. I'll be here over the summer bringing you the gossip and transfer news, but as far as competitive action goes, we have some time to wait. It's been a pleasure writing these reports - even amidst the worst moments - and I eagerly await another 38 of them next year as Getafe once more seek to prove that they are, quite simply, too big to go down.

Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Mikel González, Demidov, De la Bella; Diego Rivas (Elustondo 85), Aranburu; Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza (Paco Sutil 47), Griezmann (Bergara 69); Tamudo. Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Mario (Mané 46), Iván Marcano; Víctor Sánchez, Boateng; Pedro Ríos, Albín (Parejo 71), Manu del Moral (Casquero 82); Miku.

Getafe 0-4 Real Sociedad: Early and late sucker-punches stun the Azulones

0-1 Xabi Prieto (pen.) 9'
0-2 Griezmann 32'
0-3 Aranburu 87'
0-4 Aranburu 88'

A bitterly disappointing result sees Getafe lose ground in the race for Europe...
... Txuri-urdin scored early, while Getafe couldn't find their shooting boots...

A wasteful and careless performance from Getafe saw underdogs Real Sociedad run out 4-0 winners at the Coliseum to bring the first half of the La Liga season to a close.

While Geta will be pleased to finish the ida round in the top half, they will nonetheless be devastated at suffering a home defeat to the off-form San Sebastian side on the 19th matchday.

Míchel had a near-full squad to choose from, with only Pedro Ríos missing from the regular first XI. Víctor Sánchez dropped into the pivot to allow Dani Parejo a slot in attacking midfield, further permitting Manu del Moral to move out to the right wing.

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, were without Alberto de la Bella at centre-back, necessitating the inclusion of Mikel Labaka. David Zurutuza's absence in midfield necessitated the inclusion of Gorka Elustondo in the pivot - a selection choice by coach Martín Lasarte that would prove inspired.

Despite Getafe's bright start, matters quickly turned dark for the hosts as Real won an early penalty. Jordi Codina tipped away a deep Xabi Prieto cross, but only as far as Miguel Torres, who clearly hand-balled. Codina went the right way but Xabi Prieto's shot was low and true, giving the embattled Basques the lead.

Stats Getafe - R. Sociedad 68% Possession 32% 3 Shots on target 4 10 Corners 2 90 Balls Lost 90 65 Balls Recovered 74 3 Yellow Cards 4 0 Red Cards 0 6 Fouls Committed 17

Things went from bad to worse for Geta on the half hour as Real doubled their advantage on the counter. Joseba Llorente's running cross met the unmarked Antoine Griezmann at the far post, the young Frenchman volleying a first-time shot off the pitch into the back of the net.

From there Getafe enjoyed the bulk of the chances and possession, but found themselves stymied time and again by profligate finishing.

This was especially true in terms of long shots: both Derek Boateng and Dani Parejo saw plenty of the ball and were useful in the pass, but whenever a shot presented itself on the edge of the area the fans behind the goal were in greater danger than visiting 'keeper Claudio Bravo.

Frustration found its way into Getafe's play late on, and even the introduction of Juan Albín in the second half couldn't prevent a further collapse.

The exodus from the stands was well underway by this point, but the seats empited out in earnest as Real managed a third on the counter right at the death. It was a brilliant team move that culminated in Xabi Prieto's cutting the ball back for a slotted finish from Mikel Aranburu.

Less than a minute later the txuri-urdin added an incredible fourth. Again it was a goal on the break and again it was Aranburu who finished the move off. Yet again Xabi Prieto sliced the ball in from the right flank, and again the Basque midfielder was unmarked to steer it into the net at the far post.

It was an ignominious end to one of Getafe's worst afternoons of the season, and one that will surely give Míchel a sleepness night. How ten of Geta's regular first eleven could capitulate so easily at home is a question with no clear answer - but it's up to the coach to dig until he finds one.

Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres (Albín 46'), Rafa, Cata Díaz, Mané (Marcano 62'); Boateng, Víctor Sánchez; Manu del Moral, Parejo, Gavilán (Mosquera 65'); Colunga. Real Sociedad: Bravo; Estrada, Ansotegi, Labaka, Mikel González; Rivas (Markel 57'), Elustondo; Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza (Aranburu 84'), Griezmann (Sutil 67'); Joseba Llorente.