Getafe earned a crucial win against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin. Jose Bordalas’ men edged the hosts 2-1 to reclaim the fourth spot which was occupied by Alaves for about 24 hours.
Leandro Cabrera nodded home Francisco Portillo’s cross from close range to hand the visitors the lead in the 20th minute. Jaime Mata doubled the advantage just before half-time, latching onto Jorge Molino’s pass after a pin-ball of headers on the left flank.
Substitute and Betis legend Joaquin provided the hosts a ray of hope after his clean hit found the back of the net with 15 minutes to play but it was not meant to be for Quique Setien’s men.
Here are some of the talking points from this encounter.
Jaime Mata and Jorge Molina
11 goals and six assists this season. Five goals and two assists in the last four games. Mata built on his exceptionally brilliant February and started off March with a goal and an impressive performance.
Getafe’s style of play does not accommodate domination of possession or fancy dribbles. Against Betis, they had the ball under their possession for just 35 percent of the time. For Getafe, it’s about getting the job done and that’s exactly what Mata provided.
Mata always had Aissa Mandi and Marc Bartra on their toes and provided some real threat doubling up with his 36-year-old Molina.
44' | ¡¡¡¡GOOOL GOOOL GOOOOL del @GetafeCF!!!!, marca @mata_jaime9 el segundo. @RealBetis 0-2 @GetafeCF #VamosGeta #BetisGetafe pic.twitter.com/pKiOnb8t1y
— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF) March 3, 2019
Molina – who has 10 goals to his name this season – was unable to get his name on the score-sheet. It was not the best of nights for the Spaniard who could not finish off any of the chances created by Mata and Francisco Portillo.
Nevertheless, he set up his partner with an intelligent pass and always looked sharp on the counter.
The clock is ticking for Quique Setien
A few months ago, Setien was lauded by football fans and pundits all around the world for Betis’s sensational display at the Camp Nou where they outplayed and beat Barcelona 4-3. But things have gone downhill for the Seville club in 2019.
Betis were eliminated from the Copa del Rey and the Europa League in a span of one week and are enduring a rough patch in the league. It seems like the lack of a plan B is costing them and tonight was yet another example of this.
Like always, Betis dominated possession, enjoying 65 percent of the ball. It was yet another case of possession without purpose of penetration as the hosts failed to make Getafe custodian David Soria break sweat, especially in the first half.
It all starts out smooth and easy for Betis until they enter the final third. This is where over-passing and poor shot-conversion comes into the picture.
After a pallid first half, Betis came close to scoring for the first time only in the second half when Lo Celso was in perfect position, but shot directly at the keeper.
Quique Setien
This is not the first time Setien has watched his team suffer due to lack of teeth up-front as this was exactly how they got dumped out of the two cup competitions last week.
Given how 2019 is going, the former Las Palmas manager might be looking at a potential sack at the end of the season if he does not turn things around and hand them a Europa League spot at the very least.
Getafe favourites for the Champions League spot
It’s March and Getafe are just six points behind European Champions Real Madrid. Alaves and Sevilla are two other teams which are in contention for the fourth Champions League spot, but Getafe are likely to get the job done.
The Madrid-based club have shown consistency in testing times whereas both the Seville clubs have crumbled in crucial moments and have been beyond dismal in 2019.
Getafe are currently two points above Alaves and five above Sevilla with 12 games yet to be played.
Getafe
Bordalas’s men will face Sevilla, Madrid and Barcelona in a span of three weeks later this season and that could have a lot of say in the race for the Champions League spot. But right now, Getafe are on the right path.
