Leganes vs Getafe
Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes
Friday, 17-01-2020 @11pm
Ref: Javier Estrada
Getafe dropped to 7th in the table following consecutive defeats against Villarreal (1-0) and Real Madrid (0-3). However, Pepe Bordalas’ side lost just one of their previous ten La Liga matches, winning seven. Leganes are unbeaten in four La Liga games heading into this Friday’s contest (W2, D2); however, they have only faced teams in the bottom seven in that run. Lega have lost six of their ten home league matches this season, and have picked up just a single point at Butarque against top-half opposition (1-1 vs Athletic Bilbao, Matchday 6).
Despite signing off for Christmas with a 1-0 defeat at Villarreal, a 13 point haul from their last five home matches meant Getafe were full of optimism going into their derby clash against Real Madrid at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Matchday 19, as they looked to step up their chase for a top four finish.
But things didn’t go according to plan for Pepe Bordalas’ side, who were made to rue some atrocious goalkeeping and set-piece defending as Los Blancos ran out 0-3 winners.
Keeper David Soria is probably still enduring nightmares about the first goal after parrying haplessly into his own net, but the last couple of seasons tell us that this Getafe outfit are unlikely to remain in a slump for too long.
Whilst they head into this weekend’s Derbi del sur de Madrid on the back of consecutive league defeats and a 2-0 midweek Copa Del Rey loss at Badalona (several changes made), it’s important to remember that Getafe were in tremendous form previously, winning seven and losing just one from ten in La Liga. Bordalas’ charges also secured their qualification for the Europa League knockout stages, landing crucial victories over Trabzonspor (0-1) and Krasnodar (3-0).
This Friday’s fixture against fiercest rivals Leganes provides Getafe with an excellent opportunity to return to winning ways, and close the five-point gap between themselves and 4th placed Sevilla.
It’s been a season of sufferance overall so far for Leganes, who managed to record just one win from their opening 15 La Liga matches.
Things have perked up though in recent weeks for Los Pepineros, who are starting to appear a more solid unit underboss Javier Aguirre.
After battling defeats against Barcelona (1-2) and Sevilla (1-0), Lega are now unbeaten in four La Liga matches following two home wins (3-2 vs Celta Vigo, 2-0 vs Espanyol) and two draws on the road (1-1 vs Alaves, 2-2 vs Valladolid).
Whilst still languishing in 19th, those results have moved Lega to within a single point of safety, and they could conceivably be out of the relegation zone this weekend should they beat Getafe and results elsewhere go in their favour.
Lega have undoubtedly shown that they have the capabilities to escape the drop this term, although their bare recent form is questionable in the context of this Friday’s opposition, considering their last four opponents are all currently sitting in the bottom seven.
Upcoming La Liga fixtures
Saturday, 18-01-2020
-Levante vs Deportivo Alaves @3pm
-Real Madrid vs Sevilla @6pm
-Osasuna vs Real Valladolid @8:30pm
-Eibar vs Atletico Madrid @11pm
Sunday, 19-01-2020
-Mallorca vs Valencia @2pm
-Betis vs Sociedad @4pm
-Villarreal vs Espanyol @6pm
-Bilbao vs Celta Vigo @8:30pm
-Barcelona vs Granada @11pm
