Europe Calling? Why Getafe are on course for their best ever season

Based in the southern suburbs of Spain’s capital, Getafe have long been in the shadows of nearby giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

But Jose Bordalas’ side are on a rapid rise at present – and on course for their highest ever league finish.

Currently sat fifth in La Liga, they’re just two points off Sevilla in the Champions League spots. So what’s behind the capital club’s rapid rise? We investigate…

Veterans doing the business up top

While Getafe do have some spring chickens in defence and midfield, their strike force is all about canny, experienced forwards – and the old guard are getting it done.

Strikers Jorge Molina, Angel Rodriguez and Jaime Mata are all the wrong side of 30. But each of the trio find themselves on double figures this term, with 36-year-old Molina the side’s highest scorer.

Between them, they offer boss Bordalas a host of options. Molina is an old-school target man, but can also produce a lethal long-range strike. The first of his brace in last month’s 4-0 drubbing of Alaves was an absolute thunderbolt.

Mata is as comfortable out wide as he is in a central role, adding five assists to his 10 goals this term. As for Rodriguez, the 31-year-old is the perfect poacher, as he showed with two ice-cool strikes in the 2-0 win at Sevilla.

While the Azulones board will eventually need to fund some replacements for their veteran strike-force, it’s all looking rosy for the moment.

A better backline than Barca (It’s official!)

Only one side in La Liga’s European spots is yet to concede more than two goals in a game. No, it isn’t Barcelona, Real or Atleti…but Getafe.

As it stands, they have to settle for the second-best defensive record in La Liga. Diego Simeone’s side are notoriously scrooge-like, and have given up just 17 goals in 23 games.

But Azulones aren’t far behind, with just 19 getting past them! That’s six fewer than a Barca side who can call on the likes of Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique.

Getafe’s defensive success has largely been thanks to the club finding budget gems in the transfer market – not least Vitorino Antunes.

The 13-cap Portuguese left-back cost a mere £2.25m from Dynamo Kiev in the summer. Tough at the back and marauding in attack, he set up vital goals in the 2-1 away wins at Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano.

Elsewhere, versatile Uruguayan Leandro Cabrera was an absolute snip from Italian side Crotone for £540k. Not bad for a player who silenced £14m Kevin Gameiro in the recent 1-0 Copa Del Rey win over Valencia.

Match Odds

Next up is a visit to Eibar tonight. Despite sitting five points above the Basque outfit, the odds have a Getafe victory out at 3/1.

The evergreen Molina can be backed at 2/1 to hit the net Anytime, while a fourth 2-0 win of the season for Azulones is up for grabs at a chunky 20/1.

Click here for the latest La Liga odds.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing