Valencia 3-1 Getafe: Draw streak ends with merited loss at Mestala

1-0 Feghouli 12'
1-1 Diego Castro 24'
2-1 Feghouli 26'
3-1 Aduriz 75'

Sofiane Feghouli masterclass puts Geta on the back foot...
... In a game of few chances the visitors deserved nothing and got it...

Getafe's poor record at the Mestalla showed no signs of abating on Saturday evening as hosts Valencia strolled to an easy win over their visitors.

A wonderful performance from dynamic midfielder Sofiane Feghouli saw Geta outfought and outthought, despite their managing to equalise early on in what proved to be a sedate yet one-sided contest.

Feghouli gave Valencia the lead after 12 minutes, firing home a bouncing effort from the edge of the box after good work from Éver Banega down the right flank.

Geta leveled with their first attack of the game midway through the half, Juan Valera's cross being tipped on by Dani Güiza for Diego Castro to flick home from close range.

But barely had the visiting fans time to sit down before Valencia were back in front. That man Feghouli was at it again with another fierce drive to give los Che a lead that they would not then surrender.

Despite enjoying the best of the game it took substitute Aritz Aduriz until 15 minutes from time to put the result beyond doubt. The Basque forward made no mistake from Éver Banega's through pass and sentenced Getafe to their 10th game without a win this season.

This match saw the start of a reasonably tough run of matches for Geta that continues with the derby against Atlético Madrid next weekend at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

For that fixture, much like this one, Getafe must do without Pedro León, who is out for a month and a half after undergoing knee surgery.

Valencia: Guaita; Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Mathieu; Albelda, Banega; Pablo Hernández, Jonas (Piatti 76), Feghouli (Jordi Alba 55); Soldado (Aduriz 61). Getafe: Moyà; Miguel Torres (Miku 61), Cata Díaz, Lopo, Mané; Rubén Pérez (Lacen 46), Míchel; Valera, Abdel, Diego Castro; Güiza.

Getafe 2-4 Valencia: Another defensive collapse spells crisis at the Coliseum

Defensive calamity sees Getafe throw it all away...
... Relegation a genuine concern at the Coliseum...

Getafe's habit of throwing away leads returned in emphatic fashion on Saturday as Valencia stormed back to take a 4-2 win from the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, with former home favourite Roberto Soldado weighing in with a hat-trick.

On-form Manu del Moral got the ball rolling for Getafe early on with a low drive from the edge of the area after a wonderful one-two with Pablo Mosquera.

But the hosts' joy was to last only seconds after the break, as Soldado was on hand to equalise with a first-time slotted shot under Oscar Ustari after Cata Díaz failed to deal with a fine through ball from Juan Mata.

The ex-Real Madrid man was on target again just after the hour mark with a shot from a similar range and angle, with Jonas this time playing provider past a static Getafe defence for Soldado to take advantage.

Two minutes later Soldado had his hat-trick. Mané's lack of control saw him lose the ball ten yards out from the box, allowing the striker to steal possession and beat Ustari for a third time.

Soldado wasn't finished yet as with thirteen minutes to go Mata once again set up the Spanish international to beat his marker and slot in from close range.

Adrián Sardinero pulled one back with three minutes to go as the tireless Manu del Moral played the young substitute through on goal to fire home at the near post, but it was too little, too late.

With the rest of the relegation pack still to play Getafe are just five points clear of relegation. Next week's trip to Zaragoza is looking increasingly like a make-or-break occasion.

Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Iván Marcano, Mané; Borja (Adrián Sardinero 73), Parejo; Arizmendi (Víctor Sánchez 80), Pablo Mosquera (Pedro Ríos 66), Manu del Moral; Miku. Valencia: César; Bruno, Ricardo Costa (Stankevicius 57), Dealbert, Mathieu (Jordi Alba 81); Mehmet Topal, Tino Costa; Pablo Hernández, Jonas (Maduro 79), Juan Mata; Soldado.

Jornada 11: Valencia 2-0 Getafe

1-0 Tino Costa 8'
2-0 David Navarro 63'

A poor performance at the Mestalla consigned Getafe to their third consecutive league defeat.

Tino Costa opened the scoring early on for the hosts with an excellent volley from inside the area, and David Navarro doubled Valencia's tally on the hour mark with a via a tap-in after Jordi Codina parried away the defender's initial effort.

Geta's midfield didn't show up on the day and a typical display of poor deep defending did little to settle the nerves either.

Next: relegation candidates Zaragoza at home in what is surely a must-win tie.

Getafe 3-1 Valencia Video - 23/09/2009

Here's the goals. Valencia's strike was awesome but just wait for Pedro Leon's free-kick...

Getafe 3-1 Valencia

I know it looks like I'm only updating properly when we win, but that's just how my schedule works out. Honestly..

Anyway, after David Villa gave Valencia the lead, Manu del Moral struck back before adding a second before the break. Pedro Leon, in a wonderful performance, hit a superb free-kick to make it 3-1, and thus it ended.

An excellent team performance with no real weak links. Valencia's defensive frailties were exposed and utilised, while the man-marking and closing down play in the second period was superb from our team.

A well-deserved victory that puts us on six points. Having seen this fixture arrangement at the start of the season I'd have looked for six or seven from these fixtures - probably seven, truth be told - but this is nonetheless a good start.

Next: Zaragoza away.

Valencia 3 - 1 Getafe

A dreadful start eventually saw Getafe lose out despite a spirited second-half recovery. For all that late effort, Getafe just couldn't do enough.

Mata opened the scoring after just four minutes with a great header after Silva's cross, and then former Geta man Alexis did much the same, although both Tena and Ustari could have done more.

Granero gave Geta a glimpse of hope on half-time after converting a stonewall penalty, and while Villa was denied one of his own just after the break, it eventually didn't matter after Morientes headed home the third and final goal from close range after Osky could only parry Baraja's long-range free kick.

Celestini was then given a straight red for a late challenge on Silva right at the death to end what has been a wholly unsatisfying evening for Getafe fans.

Regardless of the damp squib that was the final, it has been a miraculous season to reach both a second successive cup final and the UEFA Cup quarters - and it's not over yet. Hopefully by Sunday we'll be safe and sound in the Liga, and we can try it all again.

AUPA GETA!

Moment Of Truth

Twenty twenty twenty four (and a bit) hours to go before Geta's second Copa del Rey final in the space of a year.

No squad has been announced yet, but Osky will start in goal ahead of Pato. The referee is Undiano Mallencano.

More details as they become available.

Oh - for those from the UK, Sky aren't showing the game. Ridiculous, isn't it? Never mind: the FA Youth Cup final is on. Yippee.g

Quique Sacked By Valencia

Yes, yes, it's old news by now, but it's worthy of mention here, given that Quique Sanchez Flores enjoyed some fine times in charge of Getafe not so long ago.

Also, La Liga Loca has prepared a scathing indictment of Valencia - or at least their president - which you can (and really should) read by clicking here.