Getafe won for the tenth time this season and moved into the UEFA Champions League places with a clinical performance at home to Rayo Vallecano.
This Madrid derby was low on goal scoring opportunities, but Getafe are so clinical and efficient that they overcame a Rayo team, 19th in the table, who have now lost four consecutive matches.
This Madrid derby was low on goal scoring opportunities, but Getafe are so clinical and efficient that they overcame a Rayo team, 19th in the table, who have now lost four consecutive matches.
Jose Bordalas played his customary 4-4-2 system. The only change was Francisco Portillo on the left of midfield instead of Mathias Olivera.
For Rayo, Michel made two changes: Giannelli Imbula replaced Mario Suarez in midfield and Emiliano Valezquez, back from suspension, started ahead of Alex Galvez in defence. The Rayo formation was 5-4-1.
This was a cagey game, with few chances. Getafe have a very set way of playing: They like to hit long diagonal passes from their full backs, they are physical, they are extremely disciplined defensively.
They had created some half chances in the opening exchanges but nothing of any note - neither goalkeeper had made a save when Getafe took the lead after 28 minutes.
Leandro Cabrera hit the long diagonal, Damian Suarez kept it in and Dimitri Foulquier cut it back for Jaime Mata in the box. The 30 year old was calm and clinical, evading Abdoulaye Ba and Alex Moreno before lashing his 10th goal of the season (his 9th in the last 12 matches) into the roof of the net.
Before half time Jorge Molina had a goal disallowed for offside, and Nemanja Maksimovic fired over. Rayo provided no attacking threat.
After half time the visitors kept possession slightly better and drew level on 58 minutes when Raul De Tomas fired in off the post from distance. It was a high quality equaliser out of absolutely nothing, and it was a life line for Rayo.
On as a substitute, Alvaro Garcia was creating more problems for Getafe than Adri Embarba had, but just 10 minutes later Rayo were weak in the midfield and allowed Portillo to wriggle away from two challenges and slide Mata through on goal. The former Valladolid man was unselfish and squared to Molina who became the third Spaniard of the match to score his 10th goal of the season. He is the first 36 year old to score 10 top flight goals in Spain since Ferenc Puscas in the 1963/64 season.
At 2-1 down Rayo hardly threatened, and David Soria was untroubled in goal.
Late on substitute Angel dragged a shot wide for Getafe, who held on for their first ever top flight victory at home to Rayo. This derby victory puts them on 39 points, and means that Rayo have lost seven out of seven Madrid derbies this season.
Images from Time Just and El Espanol.
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