La Liga Preview: Getafe - Tenerife

El Geta are looking to cement their good league position further with a success against opponents who are not enjoying the best of form...

Dec 11, 2009 5:03:13 PM

More On :  Getafe, Tenerife, Getafe vs Tenerife
Getafe, Valencia (MARCA)
Kick-Off: Sunday, December 13, 2009. 17:00 CET
Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Getafe, Madrid

Madrid's Second Team

Historically considered the Spanish capital’s third team, Getafe are making strides to usurp Atletico Madrid this season. Currently riding in the relatively lofty position of ninth, they are providing the meat in the sandwich between second placed Real Madrid and 13th placed Atleti in the Madrid mini-league.
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On Sunday afternoon El Geta will have the opportunity to improve their league standing further when they host a Tenerife side who have yet to pick up maximum points on their travels all season. On the flip side, los Azulones have claimed four wins from six home games, making them warm favourites for Sunday’s encounter.

Recent form sees Michel’s team as a real mid-table outfit, winning four of their last eight games and losing the others – a run that is representative of their season as a whole.

If there is one thing that the Madrid outfit must fear, it is Tenerife having a player dismissed. Michel’s side have three times played against teams with depleted numbers this season and on each occasion they have failed to win. Last weekend Villarreal ended with nine men yet managed to sneak a 3-2 come-from-behind success.

Prior to that encounter, Geta hammered Xerez 5-1 at home, and it is just that kind of offensive form that Michel will want his side to display on Sunday afternoon.

Keeping Their Heads Above Water

With one win in seven in all competitions, Tenerife are a team on something of a slide. The Canary Islanders started off the campaign boasting an imperious home record, but even that has deserted them as the height of the winter approaches, losing fixtures against Sevilla and Celta Vigo on their home turf.

Victory over high-flying Sporting Gijon last time out certainly aided their cause, which is to gain enough early points to avoid seriously having to worry about the relegation issue. At present the newly promoted club enjoy a four-point gap over Racing Santander, but head coach Jose Luis Oltra would doubtless like that to be greater.

Scoring continues to be the club’s Achilles heel. They have found the net only 13 times in La Liga to date, with Espanyol and Xerez the only sides with more meagre tallies. They did net three against Valladolid a fortnight ago and two against Sporting Gijon last time out, so there are positive signs on that front.

Defensively they are certainly nothing special, with the 25 goals they have conceded indicating that their back line is somewhat porous once breached. Going by raw statistics and form, they should not expect a great return from their trip to Madrid.

FORM GUIDE

Getafe

LOST 3-2 (a) Villarreal (La Liga, December 6)

WON 5-1 (h) Xerez (La Liga, November 29)

WON 2-1 (a) Espanyol (La Liga, November 22)

DREW 1-1 (a) Espanyol (Copa del Rey, November 11)

LOST 2-0 (h) Deportivo La Coruna (La Liga, November 7)

Tenerife

WON 2-1 (h) Sporting de Gijon (La Liga, December 6)

DREW 3-3 (a) Valladolid (La Liga, November 29)

LOST 2-1 (h) Sevilla (La Liga, November 21)

LOST 1-0 (h) Celta Vigo (Copa del Rey, November 10)

DREW 2-2 (h) Malaga (La Liga, November 7)

TEAM NEWS

Getafe

Javier Casquero, Fabio Celestini and Jaime Gavilan all toil with problems. The Swiss player was reported to have overcome his Achilles tendon problems but was consigned to working in the gym on Thursday. Gavilan, meanwhile, requires a last minute check.

Smaller doubts surround the fitness of David Cortes (inflamed big toe) and Manu del Moral (thigh), who should both overcome their problems to feature in the squad.

Roberto Soldado, who has top-scored with eight goals this season, is suspended along with Abel Aguilar.

Probable Starting XI: Ustari; Cortes, Diaz, Rafa, Mane; Pedro Leon, Parejo, Boateng, Adrian; Manu, Albin

Tenerife

Mikel Alonso and Dani Kome have trained normally since Thursday and are expected to be involved in the team.

Ezequiel Luna and Carlos Bellvis both return to the squad after serving suspensions against Sporting.

Gaizka Saizar continues to battle against a strained knee.

Probable Starting XI: Aragoneses; Aitor Nunez, Manolo Martinez, Sicilia, Bellvis; Ricardo, Mikel Alonso; Alfara, Roman, Kome; Nino

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Getafe

Offensively Getafe rely very heavily on the goals of Roberto Soldado, but with him absent they will look to Pedro Leon to provide their offensive spark. He registered his fourth league strike of the campaign last weekend and has generally been in good touch lately.

Tenerife

With three goals in his last three games, Nino may just be the man to lift the Canary Islanders out of their miserable scoring slump. He has only four goals for the season, but if this hot steak continues, he may just act as a catalyst from which his team-mates can gain inspiration.

PREDICTION

With Tenerife’s form seemingly fading, despite last weekend’s victory, Getafe have to start this match favourites to win by a couple of goals. The visitors are becoming more efficient in front of goal, so they may score, but they should be downed by a couple from the home side.

Getafe 3-1 Tenerife

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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