Getafe come from behind to beat toothless Mallorca

Two mistakes from Chico allowed Madrid-side Getafe to come from behind to beat a toothless Real Mallorca in Palma. Caparrós’ men put in another good performance but were let down through lapses in concentration and a lack of tenacity in the final third.

The visit of Getafe saw the return of Dani Güiza to Palma after his €14 million departure to Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2008. His big money move saw him score 23 goals in 62 appearances for the Turkish outfit.

He left the club this summer and was linked with a third spell on the island. His wages, age and erratic history deemed him a risky move, and Sporting Director Llorenç Serra Ferrer was proved right. The peak of his career was undoubtedly under Gregorio Manzano. No matter what the most diehard Mallorquinista would like to claim. He has scored just twice in thirteen Getafe games.

Like Mallorca, Getafe have had a very indifferent start to the league. Despite their Dubai investment, they haven’t set the world alight. Indifferent form has seen wins over Barcelona and Atlético Madrid and losses to Sporting Gijón and Rayo Vallecano.

Kevin García missed out for Mallorca through injury. Meanwhile, Caparrós left out Zuiverloon, Nunes, Aki, Tejera and Martí Crespí on ‘technical decisions’.

The first lapse in concentration came right from the kick off. The away side got us underway and within moments were through on goal after Chico was easily outfoxed. Miku could only poke the ball wide past Aouate, however. Then Chico was again caught out moments later and was fortunate not to concede a penalty.

It was Mallorca who took the lead though. Tomás Pina played a fantastic ball over the top for Chori Castro. Charging down the wing, the Uruguayan’s cross was blocked. From the resulting corner, Iván Ramis went up with former-Mallorca ‘keeper Miguel Àngel Moyà and beat him to the ball to head Los Bermellones in front.

Mallorca looked comfortable but showed no real cutting edge or effort to add a second. And they paid for it soon after as Getafe equalised against the run of play. Chico ducked out of a header allowing Barrada time and space to get a shot on goal. His strike takes a big deflection off the lunging Pau Cendrós and beat Dudu Aouate.

Getafe then scored their second just two mintues before half-time. Chico was again wrong footed allowing Miku through on goal again. Miku, one-on-one with Aouate, squared the ball for Barrada who added his second of the game to put the away side in front at the break.

Geta came out of the blocks quicker in the second half too. With just three minutes on the clock Pedro Ríos could’ve put the game well beyond Mallorca in the pouring rain. His long range effort beat Dudu Aouate and crashed against the post. The rebound was beyond all of those awaiting it, with Aouate stranded.

That chance sparked Mallorca into life. Chori Castro slid through the Getafe defence into the penalty area, but his cross lacked precision and went beyond everyone. And then, on 53 minutes, Tomer Hemed had a good claim for a penalty denied by the referee. A decision that could’ve gone either way, and in Spain, usually goes the way of the attacking team.

But the biggest opportunity fell for Chori Castro. His left footed strike looked to be heading through Moyà’s legs on 65 minutes, but the Spaniard somehow got his shins to the cross and the ball rolled just past the post.

Víctor Casadesús looked lively for the whole game, and any decent attacking chance went through him. But his lack of presence in front of goal was obvious and was most evident when he got in behind the Getafe defence to reach a deep cross. With the hard work done, his header was poor and flew wide of goal. A chance which he should’ve scored.

The defeat means Mallorca could slide down the table depending on tomorrow’s results. Not the best position to resume the season from after the winter break.

Teams

Real Mallorca (4-4-2): Aouate; Cendrós , Ramis, Chico , Cáceres ; Pereira, Pina (Martí 60′), Tissone, Castro (Nsue 77′); Víctor, Álvaro (Hemed 45′).
Substitutes: Calatayud (gk); Bigas; Nsue, João Victor, Alfaro, Martí; Hemed.
Goal: Ramis 9′.

Getafe (4-4-2): Moyà ; Torres , Díaz, Lopo , Masilela ; Ríos  (Mané 90′), Rodríguez, Casquero, Barrada (Gavilán 82′); Güiza (Lacen 75′), Miku.
Substitutes: Codina (gk); Mané, Albertazzi; Gavilán, Sarabi, Lacen; Colunga.
Goal: Barrada 28′, 43′.

Referee: Eduardo Iturralde González (ESP)
Stadium: Iberostar Estadi, Palma de Mallorca
Attendance: tbc.

As it happened

FULL TIME: REAL MALLORCA 1-2 GETAFE

92 mins: Chico with what looked like a simple pass. Passes straight to the opposition. Not a red shirt in sight. What was he thinking?

91 mins: Four minutes of injury time.

90 mins – GETAFE SUBSTIUTION: Needless to say the final Getafe change is at walking pace. Defender Mané is on for Ríos now.

87 mins: Torres is booked for kicking the ball away now. The referee has had a good game, for the most part.

82 mins – GETAFE SUBSTITUTION: Diego Gavilán comes on for youngster Barrada. He’s earned his way today, Barrada.

80 mins: Masilela picks up a yellow card for a late challenge. Nsue came on for Castro, by the way.

78 mins: Very strong challenge from Cendrós on Barrada. He deservedly picks up his usual yellow card.

77 mins – REAL MALLORCA SUBSITUTION: Final change. Nsue is on. Didn’t see who for though. Think it was Víctor.

75 mins – GETAFE SUBSTITUTION: First change for Getafe, and it’s a defensive one. Dani Güiza leaves the field to warm applause and is replaced by midfielder Lacen.

72 mins: And that is what I meant by Víctor never looks like scoring. He manages to get to a cross from the left wing. With all the hard work done, he heads poorly wide. That SHOULD’VE been 2-2. How costly could that be?

71 mins: This game has fallen down in two areas for Mallorca. Unfortunately, the poor performance of Chico in the centre of defence is first. It will always be tough for your team if the centre of your defence is having an off day. The second is the lack of tenacity they have in the final third. It’s not just the shots on goal. Pereira and Castro on the wings just don’t look capable of creating dangerous chances. But the build up play before it is good.

67 mins: It’s Víctor Casadesús behind any sort of Mallorca chance at the moment. But whilst his build up play is good, he just doesn’t intimidate defences. He never looks like he will be able to score. None of the Mallorca team do.

65 mins: Oh, how did Castro not score!? I thought it was in! He is played in the left hand side of the penalty area. His strike looks as if it has gone though Moyà’s legs, but he somehow managed to close them quick enough. Ball rolls just wide of the post.

64 mins: Caparrós looks very frustrated on the touchline. Plenty of hand gestures.

60 mins – REAL MALLORCA SUBSITUTION: Second change for Caparrós. Pep Martí replaces Tomás Pina in the centre of midfield.

58 mins: A very clumsy challenge on Barrada by Pereira earns the Frenchman a yellow card. Fans hide themselves with umbrellas from the battering rain. Pitch is turning into a mud slide.

56 mins: If Mallorca fail to take anything from this game, questions will need to be asked. Performances alone will not save the club from relegation. Their timid attack is concerning. Nsue starts to warm up.

53 mins: Hemed claims a penalty but the referee says no. Seen them given. Looked like the wrong decision. Immediately from the corner Chico falls over claiming a penalty. Poor dive. Referee agrees. Yellow card.

51 mins: Castro manages to break in behind the Geta defence. His cross was beyond everyone though. He hasn’t had the best of games either. Lively, but no final product.

50 mins: Pereira is bullied off the ball. He has been largely ineffective today. Can’t be long before Alfaro or Nsue, surely.

48 mins: That could’ve been game over. Ríos’ long range strike crashes against the post with Aouate beaten. The ball escapes all of those awaiting.

46 mins: The rain is pouring in Palma. Matches Mallorca’s fortune in this game.

45 mins: Mallorca get us underway in the second half. Tomer Hemed on for Álvaro Giménez is the only change.

HALF TIME: REAL MALLORCA 1-2 GETAFE

47 mins: It wasn’t his final act of the half. Allowing the ball to run back to Aouate, Barrada nearly steals in behind them. Aouate too quick.

46 mins: His final act of the half is to crash into the back of Miku. Surprisingly, no yellow card for man of the moment Chico.

43 mins – GOAL FOR GETAFE: And Getafe are in front! Another appalling mistake from Chico, who is easily wrong footed by a through ball. Miku, one-on-one with Aouate, squares the ball for Barrada who gets his and Geta’s second. Crazy.

41 mins: Not too much to report from the past ten minutes or so. Mallorca are playing well under Caparrós, which is encouraging. But it is the same old story. Who is the goalscorer? Hopefully Ogunjimi will be the answer in January.

30 mins: Lopo is booked for a high challenge on Víctor Casadesús.

28 mins – GOAL FOR GETAFE: Chico is having a tough time of it. He ducks out of a header in the six yard box allowing Barrada the time and space to shoot. His strike takes a big deflection of Cendrós and puts Geta back on level terms, against the run of play. Immediately down the other end, Mallorca miss two chances to go back infront.

27 mins: The referee checks Rodríguez out for himself before allowing him to return.

26 mins: Álvaro returns to play. Rodríguez still receiving treatment.

24 mins: Big clash of heads between Álvaro and Rodríguez causes a halt to play. Both appear to have head wounds.

19 mins: First and second yellow cards of the game have been dealt out. Both to Mallorca. Pina is booked for kicking the ball away and Cáceres is booked for persistent fouling.

15 mins: Mallorca attempt another quick counter attack. Víctor Casadesús played a beautiful ball on the outside of his foot over the top of the defence but it had just a bit too much power on it for Chori Castro. Víctor has started brightly.

12 mins: Tissone steams forward from midfield. He plays the ball out wide for Víctor. His cross from the right is beyond everybody though. Good play from the home side.

11 mins: Pereira tries to play his way out of trouble but concedes a free-kick. Nothing comes of it.

09 mins – GOAL FOR REAL MALLORCA! Michael Pereira’s cross sees Ramis go head-to-head with Moyà. Only one winner. Ramis. 1-0.

08 mins: Chori Castro burst down the left wing after a looped ball over the Getafe defence by Tomás Pina. His cross is blocked and goes out for a corner.

07 mins: Chico has had a slow start to this game and nearly conceded a penalty. Instead, a free-kick on the wide right. Geta can’t take advantage though, and it is headed clear.

04 mins: Panic in the Getafe defence but an unaware Chori Castro is unable to take advantage. His snap shot on the edge of the area flies over.

00 mins: Getafe get us underway in yellow and almost have a goal within 15 seconds. Chico easily foxed but Miku could only poke the ball wide past Aouate.