La Liga Preview: Getafe - Real Betis

There’ve been a lot of positive noises coming from both these camps over the summer months but when push finally came to shove on the opening weekend neither side really lived up to expectations.

For Getafe a 2-1 victory over Sporting Gijon could be deemed satisfactory and indeed, had the statistics told the whole story they would have won comfortably. However, whilst they started the game strongly and controlled much of the proceedings against newly promoted Sporting it was not until the 86th minute, when Javi Casquero scored, that they decisively took the lead.

If Getafe were only satisfactory then it would be only the most deluded Verdiblanco who could describe Betis’s opening day loss to Recreativo as anything but disappointing. Paco Chaparro’s expensively assembled side spurned chance after chance at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera and the coach will know that given Recre’s poor finish last season this was a game they should have won.

Hope springs eternal though and certainly Real Betis may find renewed hope this weekend in the form of a key new summer signing, Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard joined the club from Zaragoza just as the transfer window was closing and whilst he didn’t get a chance to play a part in the opening match he could well feature here. Also pushing for a starting place could be late arrivals Nélson and Luciano Monzon, the former of whom did get a run out in the defeat to Recreativo. One man who certainly won’t be taking part though is Brazilian striker Rafael Sobis, who decided to move to the United Arab Emirates and join Al-Jazira Dubai in a deal worth around €11 million.

For Getafe the expectations aren’t quite as high as at Betis this season but there is certainly a belief that under new manager Victor Muñoz the side should improve on their mediocre league position of last year. To help them do that they managed to secure the services of star midfielder Esteban Granero on a permanent move from Real Madrid as well as Roberto Soldado, both of whom only made substitute appearances in the opener but should feature more against Betis.

Coming into the game it would appear that as the home side in an evenly matched contest the onus and pressure should be on Getafe, but that is not likely to be the case. The board of Betis have invested heavily in Paco Chaparro and his team and after declaring that this side is the best they have ever seen, it is assumed that they expect results.

If Los Verdiblancos are to get anything from the game then they will certainly have to improve since their last encounter. At times the communication looked lacklustre and predictably there was little understanding between the newly arranged bunch of players, which resulted in an unimpressive display.

However, Getafe were dealt a major blow this week as Roberto Abbondanzieri was added to the injury sheet after injuring himself whilst with Argentina. His injury means that, with Oscar Ustari also out, loan signing Jacobo Sanz will have to take the gloves, a situation that enraged club president Angel Torres.

In any case the newly appointed manager will be hoping that his side can build on their opening day victory over Sporting and pick up three points here before tricky matches against Espanyol and Atlético Madrid, but these injuries might make life difficult. Indeed, if they play like they did against Sporting it would be a surprise to see them emerge with anything, but taking into consideration the opposition any result is plausible.

FORM GUIDE

Getafe

Aug 31 Sporting Gijon 1-2 Getafe (La Liga)
Aug 23 Getafe 3-0 Volendam (Friendly)
Aug 20 Salamanca 1-2 Getafe (Friendly)
Aug 18 Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Getafe (Friendly)
Aug 15 Villarrobledo 0-1 Getafe (Friendly)

Real Betis

Sept 1 Real Betis 0-1 Recreativo de Huelva (La Liga)
Aug 23 Almería 3-0 Real Betis (Friendly)
Aug 16 Elche 0-3 Real Betis (Friendly)
Aug 09 Málaga 2-1 Real Betis (Friendly)
Aug 02 Coria 1-3 Real Betis (Friendly)

TEAM NEWS

Getafe

Getafe were left seething this week as Roberto Abbondanzieri joined their injury list after taking part in international duty with Argentina. Abbondanzieri joins Oscar Ustari, who could be out for the whole season, and David Belenguer on the sidelines.

This unexpected goalkeeping crisis means that the gloves will be passed on to summer loan signing Jacobo Sanz, who joined from Valladolid but surely would not have expected to play so soon.

Those injuries aside it looks as though Muñoz will stick with the same side which beat Sporting although he may opt to start both Granero and Soldado rather than bring them from the bench.


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