Match Analysis: Getafe & Valenciennes Streaks End

Our regular early-week round-up of those significant streaks that have come to an end across Europe’s top five leagues takes place in La Liga and Ligue 1 this time round. In Spain’s top-flight, Getafe were beaten at home for the first time in eight matches as Real Madrid recorded a narrow 1-0 win to maintain their seven-point advantage over Barcelona at the top of the table. Over in France, Valenciennes won on the road for the first time this season to grab a vital three points in their fight for survival:

Ramos to the Rescue for Real - Match Centre

Getafe came into Saturday evening’s game with just one home defeat this season, with Rayo Vallecano – back in mid-September - the only team to defeat them in front of their own fans. With just 46.7% possession per home game, Getafe certainly don’t dominate matches but some solid defensive displays have meant they have conceded just 7 goals at home; only Barcelona (3) have shipped less.

As expected, Real dominated, with Jose Mourinho’s men having 61% of the play. Xabi Alonso made 85 passes, the most of any player, though he produced just 1 key pass for the visitors. Mesut Ozil created the most goalscoring opportunities - the German made 4 key passes, in addition to 34 passes and 9 crosses, despite Real attacking down his right side just 29% of the time.

Getafe showed plenty of battle, making 25 tackles to Real’s 18 as they desperately tried to get back on level terms. Right-back Juan Valera made 5 tackles and 4 clearances for the home side, up against Cristiano Ronaldo on the Real left, while Diego Castro, Getafe’s left winger, also produced 5 tackles, in addition to an interception, as he dropped deep to cope with the threat of Ozil.

For Real, Alonso and Lassana Diarra’s performances in the double pivot highlight the visitors’ dominance in the crucial midfield area. Both pushed forward, breaking up the play high up the pitch; Alonso produced 5 tackles and 4 interceptions, while Diarra made 6 tackles and 3 interceptions to ensure their side won back control of the ball with regularity.

In terms of shots, Real comfortably outgunned their hosts by 14 to 5. While Mourinho’s side had 5 on target, Getafe failed to trouble Iker Casillas once in the away goal. As the Player Positions show, Ronaldo (7) and Ozil (10) played as high up as Karim Benzema (9), with Kaka (8) dropping deeper, making Real’s shape more a 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 when in possession.

As a result, while Ozil prospered creatively, Ronaldo had 4 shots and Benzema had 3, though with just 2 and 1 on target respectively, neither managed to find the net. Both were also caught offside 3 times, though Ronaldo was clearly targeted by the home players – he was fouled on 6 occasions, three times as many as any other player on the pitch. Despite netting 24 times this season, Ronaldo has now scored in just one of his last four away games in La Liga.

In the end, Ozil provided the assist for the game’s only goal after WhoScored man of the match Sergio Ramos headed home his corner on 18 minutes as Mourinho’s side won on the road for the eighth game running.

Cohade Inspires Valenciennes to Vital Road Victory - Match Centre

Valenciennes’ trip to Dijon on Saturday was a proverbial six-pointer. A win for the home side would have taken them five points clear of their opponents near the bottom of the table, and with just 2 points on their travels all season, Valenciennes were firm underdogs for this one.

Dijon rarely dominate home matches, however, averaging just 44.3% possession. Although this was increased to 47% at the weekend, they failed to add to their 4 home wins this season. Benjamin Corgnet was the stand-out player for the hosts. Playing in the hole in a 4-2-3-1, he made more passes (46) than any Dijon player and provided 4 key passes, picking up an assist for his creative toils.

For Valenciennes, Renaud Cohade was the key player. Sitting on the left of midfield in a 4-3-3, he made 57 passes (including 2 key passes) and, while he failed to provide an assist, he grabbed the opener in a 2-1 win, netting in the second minute. Gregory Pujol was the main creator for the visitors, with 4 key passes from a total of just 23 helping him to an assist in the crucial win. Right winger Foued Kadir also picked up an assist; he made 50 passes, with 48% of Valenciennes’ play coming down his flank.

In terms of tackles, it was a close-fought battle, with both sides showing plenty of will-to-win. Valenciennes just edged it by 24 to 23, with Renaud Cohade once again standing out. The midfielder made 5 tackles and an interception, and his overall display ensured he picked up the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 7.8. With Dijon attacking down the right flank 43% of the time, Valenciennes left-back Gaetan Bong also made 5 tackles, while centre-halves Nicolas Isimat-Mirin and Gil were kept busy, making 33 clearances and winning 6 aerial duels between them.

For Dijon, Bennard Yao Kumordzi – playing in the double-pivot - was exceptional defensively, with 6 tackles and 8 interceptions breaking up the visitors’ attacks time and again. Right-back Cedric Varrault also excelled, with 5 tackles and 4 interceptions, and centre-half Samuel Souprayen, with 4 tackles, 7 interceptions and 9 clearances produced a defiant display at the back.

Valenciennes also produced more shots, 12 to 10, but neither side were particularly accurate, with 3 efforts on target for the hosts and just 2 for the visitors. The Valenciennes front three managed 8 between them, with Pujol and left winger Gael Danic registering 3 attempts each. Danic scored with his only shot on target, while all Pujol’s efforts went astray. Foued Kadir managed a couple of efforts but lost possession a total of 14 times for the visitors.

Most of Dijon’s goal threat came from Éric Bautheac. As the Player Positions show, Bautheac (11) started on the left wing but drifted centrally for much of the game; as a result, he produced 4 shots but only 1 effort was on target. It was left to second half sub Gregory Thil to notch the home side’s only goal. Coming on just after the hour mark, his 90th minute effort proved no more than a mere consolation though, as Valenciennes climbed above their hosts and up to twelfth in the table.