It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Getafe. With 16 points from 18 matches, the Azulones currently sit one point above the drop. Getafe have the third-best defensive record in LaLiga with just 15 goals conceded — only Real Sociedad (13) and Atlético Madrid (12) have let in fewer — but they also have the worst attack in Spain’s top-flight with just 11 goals scored. After eight consecutive seasons in the premier division, they find themselves in peril of dropping down to the Segunda.

So, just what exactly needs to change for José Bordalás’ side? We’re taking a deep look at the first half of Getafe’s 2024/25 season:

As we can see, the Getafe manager José Bordalás likes to stick with his beloved 4-4-2 formation, however, they are also seen at times in a 4-2-3-1 formation with one of the strikers dropping deeper, and a 4-1-4-1 for extra cover.

Attack

Getafe and José Bordalás are the epitome of an old-fashioned English team, very intense and robust with very clear ideas and an undistinguishable pursuit of booting the ball up the field. Getafe like to use the effect of intensity to their advantage given they are a squad that lacks any creative players whatsoever except for the midfielder Luis Milla. He is the 6th player with the most key plays in the league per 90, more than players like Lamine Yamal or Vinícius Júnior.

Nonetheless, the squad is very physical and can run long distances for large periods of the match. In goal kicks, Getafe will usually kick the ball up the field to the striker, from there, even if the striker does not win the ball, the chaos begins.

Getafe would usually be in a very compact shape with all the players close to the ball so that there are higher chances of one of their players winning the second ball. If the other team, however, wins the ball they instantly apply pressure on the player who has the ball to either recover the ball or make a foul to avoid a counterattack. 

We can see this as Getafe are the team with the least passes per 90, and have the longest average distance of pass at 21.81m, as well as the second-most long passes in the whole league. This is usually very effective in suffocating the rival by giving the opposition no time to react and position themselves which usually leads to quick recoveries of the ball leading to chances.

This is also a great way to generate opportunities with the use of Christantus Uche, who they signed this summer from Ceuta in the 3rd division and is excellent in winning duels. He actually has the most duels per 90 in the league with more than 30 duels per 90, which goes to show how much Getafe exploit this strength of his.

If they are able to win the ball, Getafe quickly looks to have someone on the wing to put a cross in to both strikers and perhaps a midfielder or the opposing winger, populating the area with numbers. In this example, we can see that Getafe win the ball in midfield and instantly play the ball to the other side with both strikers and the opposing winger in the box ready for a cross.

In fact, Getafe left back Diego Rico has the fourth-most crosses per 90 minutes in LaLiga this season, with almost 5 crosses per match. Getafe also have the seventh-most crosses per 90 in the league, averaging almost 15 crosses per match.

Another tool they have is to try diagonal balls with Omar Alderete’s excellent long passing which usually results in a 1vs1 for the winger or the full-back. And, if the long ball is won by the defender then he is instantly pressed and fouled. In this example, they performed a 2vs1 on the opposing full-back allowing the right-back to have the opportunity for a cross into the box.

When in possession and when the rival is sitting back, comes Getafe’s real struggle as due to their lack of ability on the ball they find it very hard to form any goal-scoring opportunities. They usually resort to giving the ball to the winger and with the full-back they try to make an opportunity for a cross. However, this is very predictable and even if the cross comes through it is usually easily deflected by the defenders as the opposing defenders are already positioned correctly inside the box.

Despite Getafe having the worst attack in LaLiga, their xG suggests they should have scored 5 more goals. Meaning that, although they are having issues putting the ball in the back of the net, sooner or later they will start scoring more often and will escalate positions.

Defense

Getafe are a team that like to press the opposition very fiercely with the objective of either winning the ball high up the pitch or forcing them long where they have excellent defenders like Alderete who will most likely win his aerial duel.

Against Girona, they would shape up in a sort of 5-2-3 formation where they would pair up each of their center-backs in the possession phase and then both midfielders would partner up with Girona’s double pivot, forcing Girona to play to the wings. Then, with Girona’s players left without options they would be forced long and into a zone where Getafe and their center-back Alderete, the player with the most recoveries in the league, are unbeaten.

When in more of a mid-block formation, they would usually resort to a very compact 4-4-2 giving little space and time for the players receiving the ball between the lines making it hard to surpass their defensive shape. Nonetheless, at times because of their compact shape, the opposing wing would be left free and if a long ball was able to be played to that side they would have a 1vs1 against Getafe’s full-back.

Nonetheless, Getafe’s defensive shapes are usually very solid and Bordalás is able to maximize his players’ physicality to concede few goals. In fact, Getafe are the team that has conceded the fewest shots in the whole league, also they are the 4th team with the least xG conceded.

In addition, they are the team with the most aerial duels per 90 which shows their intensity and effectiveness in their press as well as the 4th in PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) which also shows this. Furthermore, they are the second team with the most recoveries in the league, the second-most in the opposition third, just behind Barcelona.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Getafe are a team that despite having a troublesome beginning to the season, they will probably start achieving better results as their xG suggests. Overall, José Bordalás has been able for many years now to maximize his players’ other qualities maintaining them in the league despite not having the most technically efficient players.

This is mainly due to their defensive solidity and their pressing shapes which have allowed them to concede very few goals and give even the biggest teams many issues, being at the top of many charts in defensive criteria. Nonetheless, they are also able to generate opportunities with their use of crosses and how they populate the box to have a better chance of having a player getting on the end of the cross. 

By: Juan Fernandez Valencia / @ScoutLaLiga

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Soccrates Images – Getty Images