When José Bordalás was appointed as Getafe CF coach for the second time at the end of April 2023, the fans of the club knew that it had the potential to be a special hire.
Bordalás had already led Los Azulones to a promotion and to the Europa League round of 16 during his previous stint at the Coliseum, between 2016 and 2021. With the legendary coach returning, Getafe CF supporters dared to dream again.
The first priority for Bordalás was to save a struggling Getafe CF team from relegation. By securing 11 points from the final six fixtures of the 2022/23 season, a tally bettered only by Real Sociedad and by no other team during that period, the club from southern Madrid avoided the drop on the final matchday. Then, the confirmation that Bordalás would continue allowed for optimism at the Coliseum.
In the very first game of the new season, Getafe CF battled hard to achieve a goalless draw against reigning champions FC Barcelona and they have been just as difficult to beat over the first few months of the campaign. Following their 2-1 victory at home against UD Almería in Matchday 14, Getafe CF sit eighth in the standings and are currently on a run of eight league games without suffering defeat, their longest ever unbeaten streak in the top flight. If looking across the past 20 league fixtures, Getafe CF have taken 30 points from a possible 60, which is also the eighth-best record in that stetch.
Getafe CF have been particularly strong at the Coliseum, where they haven't lost any of the 10 fixtures they've played there since Bordalás' return. Even with quality teams such as Real Betis, Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona visiting during this period, Los Azulones have remained undefeated in front of their own supporters, who were voted the best fanbase of the 2022/23 season by the Aficiones Unidas supporters' federation.
The value of Borja Mayoral's goals
The defensive structure that Bordalás has brought back to the team, usually in a 4-4-2 system, and the support of the Coliseum crowd have been two key reasons behind Getafe CF's resurgence. The other most important ingredient has been the goals of Borja Mayoral.
Mayoral has helped ease the concern that all Getafe CF fans felt when Enes Ünal, the team's top scorer in each of the past two seasons, suffered an ACL injury towards the end of last term. The 26-year-old striker, who grew up not far from Getafe, has stepped up in Ünal's absence and become the main man at the club, scoring 10 goals in 15 appearances this campaign, with eight of them coming in LALIGA EA SPORTS to mean that only Jude Bellingham and Antoine Griezmann have more goals than he does.
The frequency with which Mayoral is putting the ball in the back of the net is historic, as no Getafe CF player in history had ever scored more than eight goals at this stage of a LALIGA EA SPORTS season. And, looking at the competition as a whole, Mayoral has contributed 47% of his team's goals this campaign, which is the highest ratio for any one player in the division, ahead of CA Osasuna's Ante Budimir on 44%.
Bordalás also deserves credit for getting the best out of Mayoral, as the coach stated during pre-season that the Spanish striker was going to be a key player for the team and have a good season. That has proved to be true, as Mayoral and Getafe CF have started 2023/24 better than most outsiders might have expected.
Despite the bright start, Bordalás and his squad are remaining grounded. When asked about the possibility of a return to European football, and the revival of the EuroGeta phenomenon, the coach replied: “We are keeping our feet on the ground. There is still a long way to go in the league season. My experience means I remain quite prudent and consistent during any moments of euphoria. If we overdo it then we'd weaken ourselves and we can't allow that. We have to keep growing, although we have to enjoy this moment while we can. I thank the fans, who have been spectacular, and the team."
Even if the coach is remaining calm, the numbers don't lie and it's clear that Getafe CF's Coliseum has become a fortress again. The coach, the players and the supporters will look to keep this run going for as long as possible.
