Christmas is over and now we all look to fresh beginnings with a new year upon us. Amongst the twenty La Liga clubs, some will look back at 2019 with a smile whilst some will be glad to see the back of it. However, they don’t have long to reflect as they are straight back into action on the weekend with three games in particular set to steal the show. Espanyol v Barcelona It’s top versus bottom in a crucial game for both. However, throw in the fact that this is a derby and the stakes are ramped up further. Barca occupy top spot but only by two-points from their great rivals Real … [Read more...]
Who will be La Liga’s surprise package next season?
Whatever happens from now, Getafe will have had a season to celebrate and are all but assured of contesting some form of European football in 2019/20. When they confirm it, it will be only the third European campaign the club have embarked on and the first since the 2010/11 season. The deep blues have been on an upward curve since promotion from the Segunda division in 2017 and finished eighth last year in their first season back in the top flight. That makes José Bordalás’ side well worth a close look at in the betting markets for next season and making sure you get the … [Read more...]
The Getafe Gate-Crashers out to Make History
At the end of the 2009/10 Spanish top-flight season Barcelona were celebrating their 20th La Liga title, Atletico Madrid were left frustrated down in ninth and Xerez had just been relegated from their one and only appearance in the big time (the club now plays in the fourth tier of Spanish football). However, there was another story that went under the radar unless you hail from a city located in the Madrid metropolitan area known as Getafe. That season, the club achieved its highest ever finish since the club’s reformation in 1983. Sixth place a still unbeaten haul of 58-points … [Read more...]
Weekend Round Up: Anyone’s for the Taking
If this weekend of La Liga action has taught us anything, it is that anyone can beat anyone, and the title race may be in its infancy, but already it is anyone's for the taking. After all, who would have predicted that in both Barcelona’s and Real Madrid’s last two league games (including this weekends) both sides would only take one point from a possible six? Or that newly promoted Valladolid would provide an early season hammer blow to Villarreal? Well, that is exactly what has happened as we take a look back at the action of week seven so far. Big Boys Struggling The table … [Read more...]
Upsetting the Applecart: Getafe’s Rise from the Ashes
Think of Madrid based football clubs and you are instantly drawn to two of Spain’s heavyweight sides in Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and rightly so. However, the pair were not the only Madrid Metropolitan side to finish inside the top eight last season as Getafe gate-crashed into eighth for only their second ever highest La Liga finish. But, the deep blues are showing no signs of stopping there and look set to upset the markets once again when it comes to betting on soccer after a fine start to the new campaign. Who is Getafe? Based just 13km from the city of Madrid, Getafe has … [Read more...]
La Liga Final Weekend Breakdown: Whats Left to Play for in the Top 10?
The English Premier League came to an undramatic close last weekend and this weekend it is the turn of Spain’s top flight to close its doors on what has been a season that has seen giants fall, minnows rise, and Barcelona come agonisingly close to an unbeaten season. With just one round of fixtures left, we take a look at what is left to play for between the clubs currently in the top ten. Barcelona – 90 pts Absolutely nothing, especially after suffering that shock 5-4 defeat to Levante last time out, it means the chance to go through the season unbeaten is no more. However, with … [Read more...]
The Rise of the Underdog: Girona, Real Betis, Getafe
This season, many people have been getting carried away by Barcelona’s dominance at the top of the table and Real Madrid’s domestic troubles. But the real story of the season still lies in the upper reaches of the division, just not with teams one may have expected. Girona, Real Betis and Getafe find themselves seventh, eighth and ninth respectively and above the likes of Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and Espanyol. Remarkably, newly promoted Girona find themselves just two points behind Sevilla and chasing down the unlikeliest of European places for next season. This has opened … [Read more...]
Ones to Watch in La Liga – Getafe to Rayo Vallecano
Part III of our look ahead to the new season focuses on some goalkeepers, Colombians and loan stars from the Premier League looking to impress. Getafe Getafe struggled for goals last season as they eked out their place in La Liga for another year, but boss Cosmin Contra has again promised that the goals will return to the club. He might be right too if Alvaro Vazquez's pre-season form is anything to go by. The former Swansea loanee bagged an impressive brace in Getafe's 3-1 win over Cagliari last week and could be the talisman the club needs to ensure another season of safety. Angel Lafita, … [Read more...]
Diego Costa on his way to Chelsea
Chelsea are set to sign highly rated Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa this summer according to UK newspaper, the Metro. The 25 year old has been in sensational form this season, more than capably filling the void left by his departed predecessor Radamel Falcao with 35 goals in all competitions for Atleti. … [Read more...]
Cosmin Contra replaces Luis Garcia at Getafe
Former Getafe player Cosmin Contra has taken over from the sacked Luis Garcia and has been given the instruction to keep the club in the top flight. Getafe have not won in 12 La Liga games and sit just a point above the bottom three, but Contra has vowed to impress supporters. Contra spent five years as a Getafe player, finishing his playing career with the Madrid-based club, and had been managing Romanian club Petrolul Ploiesti. He had been strongly linked with the Getafe job during the club's woeful run but has taken over with just 11 games of the season to play. He has been told by the … [Read more...]