Getafe secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League playoff on Thursday. As reported by Estadio Deportivo, José Bordalás's team overcame the sending-off of Abqar to complete a comeback with two late goals.
How did Getafe respond going a man down?
The dismissal of the Moroccan defender in the 68th minute for a second yellow card shifted the match's momentum. With the score tied at 1-1, Partizan pressed for a lead. Getafe, however, refused to sit back. They reshuffled, bringing on Sazonov to bolster the defense, and remained dangerous on the counter. This resilience is a trademark of the squad you can view on our squad page.
Enes Ünal, who opened the scoring in the 10th minute, came close to restoring the lead but his shot struck the post. Goalkeeper David Soria, who got a touch on Partizan's equalizer, was not beaten again. The team displayed the fighting spirit that has made them one of La Liga's most defensively robust sides in recent seasons.
Who was the hero of the night?
Several players shone, but Colombian Johan Mojica delivered a complete performance. He not only provided the assist for Ünal's opener but sealed the win with a powerful strike from outside the box in the 90th minute for 3-1. Earlier, in the 87th minute, Uruguayan Matías Satriano created the 2-1 with an ingenious back-heel that left Andrés García one-on-one with the keeper.
"It was a night of great character," Bordalás said after the match. Full-back García, scorer of the second goal, highlighted the group's mentality: "We knew that, whatever happened, we had to keep believing." These late goals provide vital breathing room ahead of next week's return leg in Serbia.
What does this result mean for the season?
The win puts Getafe in a commanding position to reach the Conference League group stage. Qualifying for the groups would represent a significant sporting and financial boost for the club. The team now faces a demanding schedule, balancing domestic league commitments with their European objective, which you can track on our fixtures page.
With this two-goal advantage, the approach for the second leg can be more tactical. The defense, despite the red card, proved resilient. The form of players like Ünal, who leads the attack, will be key to the team's ambitions across all competitions. Full team performance data is available on our stats page.
Partizan will need a historic comeback at home, but Getafe has shown it can endure pressure and finish matches strongly. The tie is still alive, but the Spanish side has taken a decisive step towards Europe.
