Getafe won 1-0 against Reading in their first pre-season friendly, but the match left four injured: Abqar, Kiko Femenía, Djené, and Andrés García. Satriano scored the winning goal.
Getafe kicked off the pre-season with a bittersweet victory. The blue team defeated Reading, from the English League One, 1-0 in a match held at the Olivo Nova Golf Resort, but the bad news came in the form of four injuries that marred the debut.
The central defender Abqar was the first to go down, in the 22nd minute, due to an apparent muscle strain in his left thigh. Shortly after, in the 27th minute, the newcomer Andrés García, on loan from Aston Villa, also had to leave due to muscle discomfort. The first half ended with two setbacks that forced José Bordalás to make substitutions earlier than expected.
Kiko Femenía and Djené join the injury list
In the second half, bad luck continued for Getafe. Kiko Femenía showed evident signs of pain on the right flank and was substituted in the 57th minute. Just six minutes later, Djené fell to the ground with another muscle issue and immediately requested to be substituted. Bordalás, who expected a match for fitness, saw his plan crumble due to physical problems.
The Getafe coach, who will compete in the Conference League this season after their return to Europe, acknowledged that the physical demands of Reading, with more preparation hours, were superior. The English team was more intense and quicker, but they came up against an inspired Jiri Letacek, who made several outstanding saves, including a stretch to deny a cross-shot from Marriott at the start of the match.
Satriano seals the win with a quality goal
Despite the absences and little match fitness, Getafe found the net in the 73rd minute. Martín Satriano, who now has six goals in 18 matches since his arrival in the winter transfer window, crafted a low left-footed shot that beat the Reading goalkeeper. A goal of pure power that gave the blue team victory in a match with hardly any clear chances.
The match also marked the return of Christantus Uche, who rejoined the blue squad a year later. The Nigerian came on in the 63rd minute to replace Djené and showed glimpses of his quality, although he did not manage to shoot on target. In the final moments, Reading protested a disallowed goal for offside, but the score remained unchanged.
For Getafe fans, these injuries are a wake-up call. With the Conference League on the horizon, Bordalás will need to manage the players' loads and hope that the four players recover in time for the start of the competition. The next friendly will be crucial to see the team's progress.
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