Jemez wary of Getafe goal threat

Posted Monday, January 07, 2013 by PA

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez has warned his side's defence they could be in for a busy night when local rivals Getafe make the short hop across Madrid.

Although they have only scored 21 goals in total, Getafe have netted in all but two of their 17 Primera Division matches this season and Jemez is wary about the threat posed by Luis Garcia's side in the final third.

He said in AS: "Getafe will be difficult, they have progressed a lot since the start of the season. They have something important, which is speed and talent up front. And when you combine both those two things, you can create chances with ease.

"Getafe are having a fantastic season and it's not easy to beat them. They have very good players up front and you're obliged to play at a very high intensity, because they never give the game up for lost."

Getafe are without Pedro Leon, Mane, Abdel Barrada, Mehdi Lacen, Adrian Colunga and Rafael Lopez for varying reasons, but Jemez said: "It's true Getafe have some important absences like Abdel Barrada and Pedro Leon, who are great players, but you never know if this is good or bad.

"They have players like Diego Castro, Jaime Gavilan and Pablo Sarabia, who also have a lot of quality and are of the top level."

Getafe, who lost both matches against their neighbours last season, are just one place and one spot below ninth-placed Rayo in the standings and coach Garcia doubts there will be much between the two on the field either.

He said in Marca: "It's going to be a match with a similar amount of chances for both teams and the individual moments in the match will be important.

"We are two teams who are in a good moment and hoping to finish the first half of the season in a good situation. It's going to be a nice match."