Getafe ensured Villarreal remained in a relegation battle in La Liga by winning 2-1 away on Monday after goals from Diego Costa and Abdel Barrada.
A Villarreal defensive lapse allowed Getafe to score the opening goal in the sixth minute. Barrada was given space and time to find Miku inside the area, and the Venezuela striker centered for Costa to score from a tap-in.
Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya was busy after that, denying striker Nilmar, before stopping Borja Valero’s 18th-minute penalty after Miguel Marcos had bundled Jaume Costa to the ground.
Photo: EPA
Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna hit the crossbar in the 38th minute, before his team finally broke through just before halftime, Nilmar scoring from the penalty spot after the Brazilian striker had been taken down by defender Cata Diaz.
Getafe dominated play after the restart and Barrada gave his team a deserved victory in the 72nd minute at El Madrigal by finishing off a move started by Castro and involving Pedro Leon.
Villarreal, who are still without Italy international forward Giuseppe Rossi, created chances, such as Moya saving from Valero in stoppage-time.
Getafe moved eight points clear of the drop zone, while Villarreal are only three above 18th-placed Real Racing Club de Santander.
“This is a big step toward staying up,” Getafe coach Luis Garcia said.
Counterpart Jose Francisco Molina was blunt about his team’s predicament.
“We’re in a very difficult situation,” Molina said.
Villarreal bowed out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey without winning a game in either competition.
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