La Liga: Getafe vs. Levante

Posted on | November 30, 2007 | No Comments

Careful with this one. I rather fancy Levante to get their first away win of the season. Getafe had a pretty dismal midweek game at home to Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv, surprisingly losing by two goals to one. The weekend before they were held to a one-one draw away to Zaragoza, and need a win to get back on track. They are currently eleventh in the league and just three points above the relegation zone.
Levante for their part must have felt Christmas had come early last weekend. They fought a pitched battle at home to Betis and eventually came out as four-three winners. They now have three wins from four games and another three points in this match would see them come within two points of leaving the relegation zone. Something everyone would have found impossible to believe just a month ago when they were ten points adrift.
Historically, the games between these two teams almost always ends in a draw. From the twelve games played (including the matches when they were both in the second division), seven have ended in a tie. Of the other five, Levante have won four and Getafe just one.
Levante’s Juanma is doubtful to make the game due to injury, while Getafe are pretty much free of any important injury problems. Getafe’s defense on Thursday night in the UEFA cup game was an absolute disaster. The players were slow, disorganized and lacking in concentration. But the biggest problem at the moment is their total inability to score goals, and this will be their undoing at the Coliseum stadium come Saturday.
Levante also have a problem in front of goal, though. They have scored just once in six away games and this needs to change rapidly. The unusual thing is they have some good players in those positions. The Cameroon striker Riga is more than able, as is ex-Real Madrid midfielder Savio, even if he is getting on in years.
I’m going for an away win here, more because of Getafe’s inability to defend well than because of Levante’s superior fire power. I do feel though that now is the time for Levante to get their first away win of the season, and Getafe’s good run I believe is about to end.
Prediction: Away win (1-2)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Levante vs. Getafe
2. La Liga: Getafe vs. Sevilla
3. La Liga: Levante vs. Betis
4. La Liga: Levante vs. Real Madrid
5. La Liga: Almeria vs. Levante

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