Villarreal-Getafe PREVIEW

Villarreal take on Getafe at the Ceramíca on Saturday, needing to pick up three points in order to have any chance to move out of the bottom three this weekend. While it’s true we haven’t lost yet under our new coach, apart from defeating Spartak Moscow, we haven’t won either.

Getafe: I don’t know why, but while others may hate Atleti, or Barcelona, or Madrid, probably my least favorite team in La Liga is Getafe. Why? I’m not sure. I suppose I should find them a source of amusement—they used to be sponsored by Burger King, hence the ‘Burger Boys’ nickname; they had a truly bizarre ad campaign (the “Hot Zombies of Getafe”) which involved trying to grow the club’s fanbase by encouraging sperm donations (I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP, check the ‘supporters’ section here), and then there was the truly bizarre sale of the club to a Middle Eastern company—only it turned out the ‘sheikh’ whom the club owners reached a deal with was actually a Brazilian waiter paid to take part in the scam.

Moving on to today, Getafe find themselves in an unusual position, seventh in the table, just a point out of the European spots. 36 year-old Jorge Molina leads them in goals (5), and Togo international centerback Djené anchors a strong defense. They do not score much (19 goals, same as Villarreal so far, and you know how we’ve been bemoaning our lack of scoring) but they don’t give up many goals either: 15 so far as against our 23. Right back Damian Suarez will be suspended for this one, which is good for us—he has been one of their better players—and Amath N’diaye is out with an injury.

Villarreal: Looking at who didn’t start (or even make the team) on Thursday, you’d have to figure we’ll see Gerard, Samu Chukwueze, Santi Cazorla, Funes Mori, Victor Ruiz, and Sergio Asenjo in the starting lineup. Apart from Bruno and Manu Morlanes, we are back at full strength.

We all wish Gerard would either start pumping in the goals or would get benched, I don’t know what else to say about that. Vicente Iborra might start somewhere: Luis Garcia says he can play ahead of the defense (in the pivote), in midfield or behind the strikers, so that really narrows it down.

All-time record: Villarreal have a 18-7-8 record overall, and are 9-1-2 at home in the Primera against Getafe. We’ve won our last three home matches against them.

Prediction: The key to this match might be whether Villarreal can choke off Getafe scoring chances. Of late, teams have been averaging 18-20 shots per match against us. Getafe are only averaging 10 per game, so if they only get 10, we’d have to feel pretty good about our chances.

Logically, everything is set up for a 1-1 draw, but since I figure we have to win sometime, I will go for a 2-1 scoreline, probably Bacca getting the game winner off the bench. Make it so, Submarine!!!