Getafe vs Osasuna preview - Garcia looking for "vital" win

Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2011 by PA

Getafe manager Luis Garcia believes the visit of Osasuna will be crucial as his side look to pull away from the Primera Division relegation zone.

Garcia's side drew 0-0 at Real Sociedad on Sunday to pick up their first point on the road all season but they still sit precariously just one point and one position above the drop zone.

The manager told a press conference broadcast on the club's website: "It is a very important match because it is one that can change a lot of things.

"If the team wins they will gain a lot of confidence and be able to move up amongst a group of sides that are tightly bunched in the table just now. If we lose we will we will be left adrift. It is a vital match."

Garcia left current league leaders Levante in the summer to join Getafe but he said he was happy for his former club, and that with greater continuity in their line-up his new side have the potential to mirror Levante's fantastic run of form.

"I am happy that Levante are leading the league, hopefully they can keep it going for a bit longer," he said. "The difference between Getafe and Levante is that they have a stable core group of players and we at the moment don't have that continuity."

Pedro Leon nearly won the game in San Sebastian with a fine effort that struck the bar in stoppage time and he should be fit to start after making his return from injury as a substitute in that game.

Defender Rafa Lopez is included in the squad for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in March but Tsepo Masilela and Jaime Gavilan remain out injured.

Osasuna had a welcome return to form with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Real Zaragoza at the weekend.

Jose Luis Mendilibar is expected to name the same XI that started on Sunday, with Roland Lamah unlikely to be fit to return after serving his one-match suspension against Zaragoza, but the Osasuna coach wants a change of mentality from his players when they play away from home.

"Here there seems to be a belief that points at home are more valuable than points away, but they are the same. We have to have the mentality to realise this," he told the club's website.

"The Getafe game will be very competitive, they are three important points for us and we can't just go there and see what happens.

"We have to be mentally right to play the game to win and this is my job, that every player goes out onto the pitch to give 100% with the mentality of a winner."