Getafe Demolish Barcelona

Filed in archive La Liga on May 10, 2007

Just saw an incredible game from Spain, in the Copa del Rey (or King's Cup) semi-final second leg between Getafe and Barcelona. The first leg had finished 5-2 to Barca, so tonight's second leg at Getafe's tiny 16,000 stadium was just a formality. Except the little team from the outskirts of Madrid won 4-0.

Frank Rijkaard did not look happy on the Barca bench, proabably because he made all the wrong moves. At 2-0 down, when his team were still leading on aggregate, he made two attacking substitutions, bringing Eidjur Gudjohnsen and Javier Saviola on, presumable to try and reverse the flow of the game and net Barca a crucial away goal. But it didn't work out like that, with Getafe scoring twice more to book a place in the final against Sevilla, who had seen off Deportivo la Coruna in the other semi without any problems.

Getafe coach Bernd Schuster will see his reputation rise and might attract interest from some big name European teams, but he still won't crack a smile. Rijkaard on the other hand will be hoping this disaster doesn't affect morale in the five game three way title run in between Barca, Real Madrid and Sevilla.

The final will be held on June 23rd, which is incredibly late to be playing a cup final, and maybe an indication that a winter break isn't all its cracked up to be if you have to then work through the summer.