Soccer Spain LaLiga 21 February 2023

Getafe vs Valencia - Match Preview

Getafe and Valencia now stand alone as the two remaining clubs yet to win a La Liga (LL) match in 2023, and with both clubs sitting in the relegation zone, this game feels like a real six-pointer. Getafe has at least claimed two draws (L4) during 2023 in the league compared with Valencia’s one (L5), and after taking points from two top-six clubs in their last two LL outings (1-1 at Atlético Madrid and 1-1 at home to Vallecano), they appear the more likely of the duo to secure a first LL victory of the calendar year.

The result against Vallecano was also enough for manager Quique Sánchez Flores to avoid being heaped onto LL’s mounting list of sackings in 2022/23, even if he candidly admitted after the match that “a draw was not enough” to keep them safe in what remains their poorest season of the last decade in terms of points earned at this stage (19).

Valencia’s first goal in four LL outings couldn’t earn them any points after they held a lead for fewer than 15 minutes, before succumbing to a fourth consecutive defeat as they fell to a 2-1 loss vs Athletic Bilbao last weekend. Despite being one point ahead of Getafe in 18th place, Valencia appears in even greater strife coming into this match, and there were large off-field protests demanding the removal of club owner Peter Lim before that loss at home to Athletic.

Their opening goal in that game was just their third first-half goal in an extensive run of eight losses from their last 11 LL fixtures (W1, D2), which also makes anything close to a repeat of their tremendous 5-1 rout of Getafe at home last September - in which they stormed to a 3-0 lead within 16 minutes - unlikely. In fact, after failing to win any of their last four competitive trips to Getafe (D1, L3), Valencia could be fortunate to come home with any points!

📋 Key battle: After his last-gasp penalty saves against Vallecano last round, one Spanish publication went as far as to declare that goalkeeper David Soria single-handedly saved Quique’s job! Valencia will be hoping that Samuel Lino, who has scored in two of Valencia’s last three competitive games not involving the suspended Samu Castillejo, can repeat the dose again

⚡ Hot stat: All but one of Valencia’s last ten LL matches were level at half-time.