Getafe struck a mighty blow to Alaves on Friday night at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, taking full advantage of Victor Laguardia's absence to crush Abelardo's side 4-0.
This was the first time Getafe had scored four in a league game since facing Alaves at home last season. Alaves had not conceded four in a game all season.
This was the first time Getafe had scored four in a league game since facing Alaves at home last season. Alaves had not conceded four in a game all season.
Both teams played a classic 4-4-2 system.
For Getafe, Dimitri Foulquier and Mauro Arambarri were suspended. Damian Suarez returned from suspension (at right back) and Bruno Gonzalez came into the heart of the defence (with Leandro Cabrera moving to left back, and Vitorino Antunes moving to left midfield).
For Alaves, centre back Victor Laguardia hadn't missed a minute all season but he was suspended for this clash. Ximo Navarro moved to centre back with Martin Aguirregabiria starting at right back. Jony (an influential creator who has five assists this season) was out injured, and of course Ibai Gomez has been sold to Athletic Club.
Getafe started brightly with Antunes marauding forward and creating problems for Martin. The Portuguese almost set up Jorge Molina and then had a shot saved inside the opening ten minutes.
Alaves struck a tame effort from Ruben Sobrino and were largely on the back foot in a game that was expected to be tight, cagey, and probably settled by just one goal.
Just after half an hour Antunes' cross deflected to Sebastian Cristoforo who was clever in drawing a foul from Guillermo Maripan inside the box.
Jaime Mata coolly converted the spot kick - it was the first penalty Getafe had scored all season.
Getafe are very tough to beat once they have their noses in front - they'd not lost all season having gone ahead. At home they'd won four from four after taking the lead.
The remainder of the first half was tight and largely uneventful, Borja Baston skying one half chance for the visitors.
Alaves did come from behind to draw at Girona last week, and came from behind to beat Valencia two weeks ago - so all hope was not lost that they might force their way back into the game after half time.
However, within 60 seconds of the re-start any hope there was vanished when Jorge Molina picked up a pass from Cristoforo and crashed it home from distance. He was afforded too much time and space by the Alaves defence (Navarro in particular) who were struggling without Laguardia.
Ten minutes later the Alaves defence switched off again. Leandro Cabrera's long throw was flicked on by Mata and Molina neatly finished into the roof of the net. This was the 36 year old's eighth goal of the season, and his seventh in 11 matches.
Abelardo threw on Mubarak Wakaso, John Guidetti and Patrick Twumasi but the game was beyond them. Tomas Pina picked up a booking that will rule him out of the game against Rayo next week.
Angel came on for Getafe and almost made it 4-0. Teenager Hugo Duro also came on for his fourth La Liga appearance, and Samu Saiz (on loan from Leeds United) played the final five minutes.
In the 88th minute Mata extended Getafe's lead to put real gloss on this score-line: Cristoforo's free kick was delicately flicked home by Mata who registered his fifth goal in the last 7 matches, his sixth of the season. The assist was Cristoforo's third assist of the game, and Getafe have now won all 3 games he's started.
Before the game Jose Bordalas had said that "praise weakens you, I want our players to continue to work with humility in order to continue growing, we've achieved nothing yet."
After this victory Getafe move on to 31 points, within one of Alaves. With their seventh clean sheet of the season, and a defensive record bettered only to Atletico Madrid, it feels as it they are in the process of achieving something. Qualification for Europe, for the first time since the 2010/11 season, remains a realistic hope.
Abelardo will hope that this was a temporary blip and not an omen for the second half of the season. He'll be mightily relieved the have Laguardia back for the game at home to Rayo next week.
Images from News4Europe and AS
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