Almeria vs Getafe preview - Navarro: We have to stay awake

Posted Sunday, February 01, 2015 by PA

Almeria defender Ximo Navarro has warned that his side cannot afford any lapses of concentration when they host relegation rivals Getafe.

The Andalusians have lost their last three league games and currently lie second bottom of the Primera Division table, four points behind Getafe.

They were beaten 3-0 by Espanyol in their last outing, conceding two goals in the space of three minutes in the first half, and Ximo has called for his team-mates to be fully alert from the first whistle against Getafe, as they were in the opening 45 minutes against Malaga and Valencia.

"We cannot start the game looking as clueless as we were at Espanyol, we were very passive in the first half, which was the complete opposite to our performances at the Mestalla and La Roseleda," Ximo told a press conference.

"We are all fighting for one objective and every point is vital. We are into the second half of the season and we cannot go into a game looking so clueless again and give goals away so cheaply to our rivals."

Although concerned with Almeria's last performance and their recent results, Ximo is certain Getafe will not be complacent about getting the three points when they turn up at the Juegos Mediteraneos stadium.

"They can't afford to think that the game will be a walkover," he said.

"If they are just looking at our results then they might think that, but we have had some great performances but ended up drawing or losing. On Sunday we will show that we won't let them leave here with a single point."

Ximo is a doubt for the game owing to a muscle strain, while Thievy Bifouma, Jonathan Zongo and Ruben Martinez are all ruled out.

Sunday's game is the third meeting between the two sides this month, with Getafe knocking Almeria out of the Copa del Rey 2-1 on aggregate a fortnight ago.

The Madrid side were unable to progress beyond the quarter-finals of the competition however, losing 2-0 to Villarreal on aggregate last week.

But coach Quique Sanchez Flores did not lament the defeat and the opportunity to meet Barcelona in the semi-finals, admitting the result means they can focus on their campaign to avoid relegation.

He told a press conference: "My disappointment is relative because I'm thinking more about the next tie we would have had.

"Now Villarreal will face the team in the best form in Spain at the moment, and we have a very small squad, so a two-legged tie with Barcelona was not what I had dreamed about. That would take us further away from our main priority, which is the league."

Getafe will be without Alexis Ruano for the match through suspension, while Medhi Lacen still not yet returned from the African Cup of Nations, and Karim Yoda and Juan Valera are doubtful owing to injury/