Getafe had far more than three points at stake. They arrived sixth, on 44, level with Celta and with the European places within reach. In front of them, an eleventh-placed Rayo with nothing pressing. They left the pitch seventh, and with the feeling of having let slip rather more than a match.

The first serious warning came in the 38th minute. Camello took his chance and made it 0-1 before the interval, in a first half in which the Coliseum had already seen Domingos Duarte booked.

Bordalás did not wait. At half-time he changed three pieces at once — Kiko Femenía, Davinchi and Liso came off — looking for a different look in the second half.

And the match had its moment. In the 64th minute, with the score still 0-1, Getafe were awarded a penalty to level it. Arambarri took it and missed. That was the last time the game was open.

Nine minutes later came the killer blow, and it came off the bench: Nteka, who had just come on, made it 0-2 in the 73rd. Bordalás still brought on Milla and Luis Vázquez in the 79th, but the match was gone.

Domingos Duarte, Luis Vázquez and Abqar were booked for the home side. Sesma Espinosa refereed the game and Iñigo Pérez was in the away dugout.

The defeat had immediate consequences in the table: Getafe stayed on 44 points, Celta pulled away to 47, and Bordalás's side dropped to seventh, level on points with Athletic Club. Four matchdays remained.