Getafe have everything to gain on Saturday when they host Villarreal at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
The tiny Madrid-based club can earn Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. They must win against Villarreal and get some help from Real Valladolid in their game against Valencia.
Villarreal go into the game having staved off relegation after a nightmare La Liga season. The Yellow Submarine can finish as high as 12th in the final standings. The position will not do their poor season justice as just a few weeks ago Villarreal were mired in the bottom three.
Manager Javier Calleja has guided Villarreal to a 4W-1D-1L record in their last six matches. The team’s elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Valencia greatly helped in the fight for safety. Now, Villarreal can prepare for a deserved offseason.
Getafe have been the real story of La Liga this term. The club has qualified for Europe just twice in its history (2007, 2010). They have hung with the top sides all season, but last weekend’s loss to Barcelona could prevent a top-four finish.
There is still a chance to make the Europa League with a defeat on Saturday.
The good news for manager Jose Bordalas’ team is they will play at home. Getafe have won 35 of their 58 points this season at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Getafe have been built on a strong defence and only 11 goals have been conceded on their own turf.
Getafe have kept 12 clean sheets at home in all competitions this season. Meanwhile, the team averages 1.57 goals per game at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Twenty of Villarreal’s 43 points have come on their travels. The Yellow Submarine have lost three of their last five road fixtures and were outscored 8-5 in those away losses.
Getafe have got scoring from three ageless wonders. Jorge Molina, Jaime Mata, and Angel Rodriguez have combined to score 45 goals this season.
The first meeting between the two teams this season saw the Getafe come away with a 2-1 win. Molina and Rodriguez were on target for Getafe while Villarreal’s goal came courtesy of an own goal by the visitors.
Getafe have not lost to Villarreal at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in their last three La Liga games at the stadium. Two of those games saw Getafe keep clean sheets.
Saturday’s fixture is a massive game for Getafe. They will step up for another big win at home and keep a 13th clean sheet on their home turf.