Getafe's search for an away win continues after a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis's La Cartuja stadium on Wednesday. The only goal came from Abde Ezzalzouli in the first half, initially ruled out for a possible handball before a VAR review overturned the decision.
The loss leaves José Bordalás's side 11th in LaLiga EA Sports with 8 points from seven matches. Their recent form reads one win, two draws, and two defeats from the last five outings. Next up is a daunting trip to face league leaders Barcelona on October 10th.
A Controversial Goal and a Red Card
Betis, who are now unbeaten in 13 home matches, dominated the first half with over 80% possession and ten shots. The pressure told in the 45th minute when Abde controlled a pass from Troy Parrott and beat David Soria. The assistant referee's flag went up for a suspected handball, but a review at the pitchside monitor confirmed the goal.
Getafe's task grew harder in the 58th minute when Mario Martín received a second yellow card and was sent off. It was the third direct red card the team has seen in six league games. Despite being a man down, Bordalás's men held firm and Soria made several key saves, including a spectacular one-on-one stop to deny Iván Azón.
The Managers' Reactions
Getafe boss José Bordalás expressed his disappointment but praised his team's spirit. "We are sad, they gave everything, a great effort without reward," said Bordalás. "Betis are in incredible form, it was a difficult match..."
Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini highlighted the importance of Dani Ceballos, who returned to the club after nine years away. "Ceballos is also very important, he went to Madrid for no less than 8 years, he has returned with enthusiasm and had other options and he is making a very important contribution for us," stated the Chilean.
Looking Ahead to the Camp Nou
Getafe must pick themselves up quickly for a week of preparation ahead of the trip to the Camp Nou. With only four goals scored in seven matches, the attack needs to find more cutting edge. The positive is the defensive resilience shown despite adversity, a point captain Djené emphasised after the final whistle.
The team now has an international break to analyse mistakes and work on physical recovery. Fans can check the squad's progress and the full schedule on our squad and fixtures pages. The clash with Barcelona will be the ultimate test of this squad's ability to bounce back.
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