La Liga: Europe Beckons , But Can These Two Make It?

Getafe vs Sevilla

Would anyone have realistically thought this would be such a near top of the table La Liga clash in mid-February?

It is Getafe versus Sevilla, third versus fifth, only two points between them and only five points separating six sides (from third to eighth spot).

Could Getafe really be about to enter the Champions League elite for first time?

Surely not, yet if they win this one perhaps more and more pundits like yours truly will start to consider them as genuine contenders for a top four finish.

Talking Points

The big La Liga news story of the season so far is that Getafe, the club with the 12th largest budget in La Liga of 52 million euros at £43.3 million, are sitting loud and proud in third place and are, on present form, the second best team in Madrid.

They pushed champions Barcelona close last weekend and continue to defy the La Liga betting odds.

This from a side whose ranks comprises many players from the lower leagues, some of whom were considering giving the sport up and getting day jobs not too long ago.

Can Jorge Molina score a goal for Getafe in their upcoming La Liga clash against Sevilla? — Jorge Molina controls the ball against Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets

Striker Jorge Molina was on the verge of making use of his PE teacher qualification, while fellow front man Jaime Mata was all set to start work as a customs officer when first Real Valladolid and Girona, and then Getafe stepped in to rescue their careers.

Canary Islander Angel Rodriguez joined after being instantly dismissed by Real Zaragoza for saying publicly that he wanted his club to lose against Tenerife, his hometown team.

Barcelona were reportedly also considering signing him as a replacement for the injured Luis Suarez until a few days ago.

All this has been achieved under the guidance of Jose Bordalas.

The club had been relegated but they bounced straight back into the top tier via the play-offs in his first campaign.

Tipped to go straight down, they surprised everyone by finishing eighth, and then the following season finished fifth, only missing out on a Champions League place in the last game.

Now they are third – ahead of the likes of Sevilla, Valencia and Atletico Madrid and in the last 32 of the Europa League.

In fact, Bordalas and Getafe continue to confound the critics as shown by an impressive 2-0 success in Amsterdam this week against one of last season’s Champions League semi-finalists. Getafe have now won five of their last six games in all competitions.

This weekend’s opponents Sevilla are a class act on their day of course, although they will want to fare better than when they visited the Basque country earlier this season.

All the same, they have already shown they can rise to the occasion in big games too.

Sevilla were also in Europa League action on Thursday as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at Cluj. That left them without a win in their last five outings, the worst spell of form that the club has had since former Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui took over last summer.

There could be some rotation from that side with Youssef En-Nesyri likely to lead the line after his key leveller in that game. Getafe, meanwhile, should recall Molina in attack, while the fit again Jason will compete with Allan Nyom for a starting role on the right flank.

Europe possibly beckons for both these clubs but can either of them make a top four berth? This match may tell us who is better equipped.

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Serie A

History

Getafe enjoyed a fine double over Sevilla last term.

They won 2-0 in Seville, thanks to an Angel first half double, and then triumphed 3-0 in this corresponding fixture when Mata and Molina were the marksmen.

Earlier this term, Sevilla won 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Javier Hernandez and Luis Ocampos.

Overall, these clubs have met on 34 occasions and it’s been close with Getafe winning 13 and Sevilla enjoying success 14 times. The other seven encounters have been draws.

Sevilla have only won once at Getafe over the past decade – a 1-0 success in August 2017, courtesy of a late Ganso goal.