Searching for a first LaLiga win at the Coliseum since November (D1, L3), Getafe were the side on the front foot from the off, albeit without threatening a great deal in the opening passages.
Luis Milla produced the game’s first genuine chance when he latched onto the ball and darted into the area before guiding an effort marginally wide across the face of goal.
Milla was involved again when his dangerous cross from the left flank narrowly evaded the head of Juan Iglesias, who was under pressure from Renato Veiga and was ultimately adjudged to have been hauled to the ground, handing the hosts a spot-kick four minutes from half-time. Mauro Arambarri was the man to step up, lashing home the penalty to notch just Getafe’s third first-half goal this season, and putting Los Azulones ahead at the break.
It was just the second time Getafe had led at half-time this season (HT: D14, L8), and it didn’t take long for them to put daylight between themselves and their shot-shy opponents, doubling their advantage just eight minutes after the restart.
A turnover deep in the Villarreal half started the move, which eventually culminated in Iglesias whipping a ball into the box for the on-loan Martín Satriano to head in his first Getafe goal.
With almost an hour played, the visitors finally mustered an effort at goal, but Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi’s header drifted harmlessly wide, emphasising the task at hand for the sub-par Submarino Amarillo.
Only Barcelona and Real Madrid had netted more than Villarreal’s 43 league goals, but chances were evidently proving hard to come by as time ticked away.
Nonetheless, Georges Mikautadze reignited hope when the ball kindly broke to him in the box, making the most of some good fortune to skip past Domingos Duarte and clip an effort onto the post before reacting first to turn in on the rebound.
A stop-start final few minutes didn’t help Villarreal’s cause, ultimately allowing Jose Bordalas’ side to get over the line.
The result marks Getafe’s fourth successive league game unbeaten (W2, D2), lifting them into the top half, seven points clear of danger for the time being.
Meanwhile, just a second loss in seven LaLiga away fixtures doesn’t tell the full story for Villarreal, whose optimistic title challenge is firmly behind them, with three wins in eight games (D1, L4) leaving them well off the pace in fourth, but still seven points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Juan Iglesias (Getafe)
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