Real Betis vs Getafe preview - Mel bigs up Getafe clash

Posted Monday, April 01, 2013 by PA

Real Betis coach Pepe Mel is in no mood to play down the importance of the match against Getafe describing this and every remaining fixture as "a final".

Ahead of Sunday's matches, Betis are two points off sixth-placed Valencia, who take on third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Getafe are a point behind Betis, with the race for Europe made all the more competitive by fourth-placed Malaga's ban for next season.

Betis head into the clash off the back of a 3-0 defeat in Valencia and although two wins from their last 11 matches indicates a lack of form, Mel was keen to praise his side's work

"To get into this position we've had to win many games," he told reporters.

"Every game is a final.

"It will be very even throughout and a lot (of teams) will swap positions.

"Real have given a spurt because they are a great team. Valencia is also there. Nobody who are in the top 10 gives up on Europe."

And Mel is in no doubt about which Getafe players his side will have to watch closely.

"The three playing behind (Adrian) Colunga are very good," he added. "Abdelaziz Barrada, Pedro Leon and Diego Castro beat people when one on one and also, from set pieces, Pedro Leon is the best in the nation and that makes them very dangerous."

Mel will also be way of Getafe's form. Luis Garcia's men come into the match off the back of four wins from their last five matches, but the boss is refusing to take anything for granted.

"The game will probably be equal at first but then then hopefully we will take control because if we won it would be a very important step," Garcia said. "What we have to do is be optimistic.

"The team is in very good shape, although the rival that we are facing is careful and very good.

"We have to think about us and return to the form where we were before the break and we have to regain that."