Getafe vs Elche preview - Garcia: We'll take game to them

Posted Saturday, November 09, 2013 by PA

Getafe coach Luis Garcia believes his team must show enterprise and patience to break down Elche.

Fran Escriba's Elche side made a slow start to their first season back in the Primera Division after winning promotion last year but have since picked up results, taking 10 points from their last six games, a record which has lifted them up to 13th in the league table.

Although short on attacking firepower - they have averaged exactly one goal per game - Elche have proved a tough nut to crack for many of the teams they have faced this term.

"They don't always take the initiative, and I get the feeling we're going to have to take the game to them," Garcia said in a press conference.

"They are a compact and ordered team and it's very hard to catch them on the counter-attack because they do not open themselves up.

"We'll have to have a lot of patience and persevere. We'll try not to do anything strange, and play with a lot of intensity. But I still believe in my players, who have been playing very well. We have to go for the win."

The Madrid side are sixth in the table but have lost their last two home matches, to Athletic Bilbao and Valencia respectively.

Although he praised his side's performances, Garcia highlighted the need to improve their record at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

"The team are playing well, which is why we are sixth. But at home we have had a touch of uncertainty in the last two games that we haven't had away from home," said Garcia.

"We need to continue doing the same thing, get our confidence back and make our ground a fortress again."

Getafe will be without injured forward Adrian Colunga and suspended defender Alexis Ruano, while Elche also have injury concerns, particularly in defence.

David Lomban will be absent after injuring his calf against Villarreal, while full-backs Edu Albacar and Cristian Sapunaru are doubts following weeks out on the sidelines.

They will also be short in attack, with Manu del Moral ruled out of action for six weeks with a fractured foot.