29th LaLiga match week offered us a very attractive meet between two teams with a very notable personality as Getafe and Espanyol are. Both are in need of points in order to achieve their goals: home team had the opportunity to reach the Champions League positions if they got the win, while the visitors needed the points to leave the bottom of the table and keep their battle on avoiding relegation. They both also had important players out, as Getafe could not count on central defender Djené and Espanyol did not have their star player, forward Raúl de Tomas. They did have Chinese striker Wu Lei, who has returned on a good shape after the break.
First half was very physical. Abelardo´s squad started on a great attitude, and had the first clear chance of the game through a header by David López from a corner kick that keeper David Soria saved. On the 16th minute there was a very controversial action: referee sent Espanyol´s central defender Bernardo off because of a light poke on Getafe´s right back, but you could clearly see on the replay that Bernanrdo barely hit Famian, and he certainly did not have any intention to do so. VAR did not correct referee´s wrong decision and so Espanyol was left with 10 man. Referees are making very serious mistakes on this LaLiga return. Despite Espanyol´s inferiority, Abelardo´s team managed to stay on the game and deny every Getafe´s approaches, and they kept the initial 0-0 score to halftime.
Getafe improved on their game in the second half, but Espanyol kept their good performance from the first half as well, and it lasted the entire match. Espnyol winger Embarba missed a good chance to score after he dribbled over the whole defense, but he could not finish it properly. The game changed its direction through Getafe´s forward Ángel, who went in from the bench, as coach Bordalás wanted to display a more offensive playing style. Espanyol´s huge effort has been the key to hold Getafe off, even though they were playing with one less player. Getafe´s defender. They had a big opportunity to win the game through a header by Ángel in extra time, but goalkeeper Diego López made an incredible save to give his team a point.
Fair draw at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez stadium on a match where the keeper´s saves where the actions that stood out the most. They both leave themselves satisfied with this point, but Espanyol deserved more.
