Getafe picked up their sixth win of the season, and their fourth consecutive victory against Real Sociedad, thanks to Jorge Molina's early goal at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday afternoon.
Pepe Bordalas made four changes to the team that drew at Leganes a week ago. Amath Ndiaye has ruptured his cruciate ligament in that derby, so Gaku Shibasaki made his first start since Week One, on the left hand side of midfield. With Jaime Mata suspended, Angel partnered Molina in attack. Nemanja Maksimovic was ill so midfielder Sebastian Cristoforo (on loan from Fiorentina) made his first start of the season. And Vitorino Antunes was preferred to Bruno Gonzalez in defence.
Asier Garitano was without six first team players through injury: Joseba Zaldua, Aritz Elustondo, Martin Merquelanz, Kevin Rodrigues, Luca Sangalli and Raul Navas. Ruben Pardo was left out of the squad. Garitano selected 16-year-old forward Ander Barrenetxea as a substitute. He opted to start Sandro Ramires ahead of Adnan Januzaj - a surprising decision given Januzaj's form and the fact that Sandro hasn't scored in more than a year. That was one of three changes to the team that lost against Valladolid with Andoni Gorosabel replacing Zaldua, and Igor Zubeldia preferred to Mikel Merino in midfield.
Inside three minutes the home team led. When Molina slipped Shibasaki through on goal, Gorosabel should have cleared easily. He didn't, allowing the Japanese midfielder a shot on goal, which Migel Angel Moya saved. From the rebound Molina calmly side-footed his volley in to the unguarded net from 30 yards. It was the 36 year old's fifth goal of the season, and his 10th in 11 appearances against Real Sociedad. He dedicated it to Amath Ndiaye, by holding up the Senegalese winger's shirt.
Ten minutes later Mikel Oyarzabal struck a volley wide, before Djene Dakonam rattled the cross bar with an excellent shot for Getafe.
La Real then created a number of opportunities but they lacked precision in front of goal. Juanmi wasted a chance when one-on-one with David Soria, Sandro completely missed a good cross from Theo Hernandez, and then Soria made comfortable saves from Juanmi and Willian Jose.
Diego Llorente replaced Gorosabel at right back at half time, but Garitano did not change shape as he'd done in the comeback away at Levante.
Bordalas pulled Angel Rodriguez to left midfield and Getafe now played as a 4-5-1 instead of 4-4-2.
For 15 minutes at the start of the second half, La Real looked energised and created a flurry of chances. From a Theo cross, Juanmi's header was saved. The 25 year old has now scored just once in 12 matches.
Willian Jose shot from distance, but was off target and now hasn't scored in nine league games. Real Sociedad look tired in attack and their level tailed off as the second half progressed.
Getafe were seeking their sixth clean sheet of the season - Only Atletico Madrid have conceded fewer goals than Bordalas' team.
Late on 19-year-old Hugo Duro (on as a substitute for Getafe) blazed a shot wide as the hosts almost doubled their lead on the counter attack.
In the end they held on for the 3 points that move them, temporarily at least, up to fifth in the table.
Real Sociedad lost for the third week running, and despite earning 13 of their 19 points away from Anoeta, they've now lost three of their last four games on the road. This was the sixth time in 10 matches that they failed to score.
Images from Euskal Irrati Telebista and Marca.
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