Getafe endured a heavy defeat in their UEFA Europa Conference League League Stage opener. The Spanish side lost 2-5 to FC Lugano on Thursday at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, collapsing after a bright start. This result from Thursday 22 October adds to a recent run of one win, two draws and two losses in their last five matches.
Ivan Azón opened the scoring for the hosts after just two minutes, but the joy was short-lived. Albian Ajeti equalised a minute later and Yanis Cimignani put the Swiss side ahead in the seventh minute. Ajeti extended the lead in the 26th minute, completing a first-half trio of goals that left Getafe reeling. "We conceded three goals in the first half that cost us the match," admitted Azón afterwards.
The second half did not bring the expected reaction. Uran Bislimi scored Lugano's fourth in the 50th minute. Borja Mayoral, who was booked in the first half, grabbed a consolation for Getafe in the 74th, but Kevin Behrens sealed the rout in added time.
Manager José Bordalás made four changes at half-time, bringing on Nemanja Gudelj, Johan Mojica, Roger Riera and Martín Satriano, but failed to stem the defensive bleeding. The statistics reflect a strange match: Getafe dominated with 57% possession and had 22 shots to Lugano's 8, but only five of the visitors' shots found David Soria's net and five were goals.
This defeat is a major blow to the team's European aspirations, as they sit 15th in La Liga with 9 points from nine games, having recorded two wins, three draws and four losses. In the league table, the team trails leaders Barcelona by 18 points. The schedule offers no respite, with a trip to San Mamés to face 13th-placed Athletic Club next Sunday, 25 October. The team needs an immediate reaction to halt a poor run of just one win in their last five matches across all competitions. Their league scoring record of just five goals for and eleven against further highlights their current struggles.
"We have to be more focused and that depends on each one of us," added Azón, stressing the need for self-criticism. The striker was replaced by Enes Ünal in the 66th minute, one of many changes in a match that left more questions than answers for the Azulón faithful. The game against Athletic kicks off on Sunday at 14:00 local time.
A war of words has erupted at Getafe following the defeat to Lugano. Manager José Bordalás said he felt "deceived" by unfulfilled promises about the squad. President Ángel Torres hit back strongly, telling Cadena Ser: "You have to have a face like cement to tell me, after 30 years, that I have deceived him". The team, 15th in La Liga with 9 points, now seeks a reaction at San Mamés.
