Bordalás is back as the Pichichi race hots up
A familiar face is back in LaLiga to try and save Getafe, while at the other end of the table, two of the biggest stars have a shootout for the Pichichi.
No hay Liga. After Barcelona’s comprehensive win over ten-man Betis on Saturday night, the lead at the summit remains at 11 points with just 18 to play for. Xavi’s side will require just eight points (or three wins) to secure their first title in four years. As Real Madrid’s other competitions come into sharper focus, it really is now just a matter of when, and not if, Barça will be singing the alirón.
There is a contest, however, bubbling nicely between the marksmen of the respective clubs. Karim Benzema notched another hat-trick this weekend, closing the gap on Robert Lewandowski at the top of the Pichichi race. When LaLiga paused for the World Cup break, Lewandowski was racing away with it, and bookmakers were almost paying out on him securing the award. He had already bagged 12 goals in 14 matchdays, while Benzema was languishing behind on five. But since the return of domestic action, the Frenchman has outscored the Pole by 12 goals to 7, almost a complete reversal.
It is worth adding that none of Lewandowski’s goals have come from the penalty spot, whereas Benzema has six to his name, but a goal is a goal, and they all count. Business-end Benzema appears to be peaking at the perfect time, with the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semis just around the corner. If he stays injury-free and is not rested too much in between those key matches, he has every chance of leapfrogging Lewandowski, whose form has been the topic of much discussion in recent weeks. For example, his goal in the win over Betis was just his second at Camp Nou since the World Cup. In contrast, Benzema struck three in 45 minutes at the Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon.
With the title done, this battle may offer something of a crumb of comfort to Madridistas for the run-in. Lewandowski would be the first to win the coveted trophy in his debut season in LaLiga since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2006/07, but Benzema wants to retain it to join the likes of Raúl, Ronaldo and Diego Forlán to possess a pair.
There were emotional scenes at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in 2021 when José Bordalás waved goodbye to the South Madrid club. He had taken them on a roller-coaster ride of emotions across half a decade. From Segunda to the Europa League knockout stages, his managerial stock was on the rise until the final season.
Propagating, embracing and defiantly defending his ultra-aggressive, combative style of play, few neutrals enjoyed watching them play, but deep down there was begrudging admiration for how effective such a style was. Forget playing the ball out from the back, defenders were defenders at Getafe, and forwards knew they would be in for a bruising 90 minutes. Opposition defenders too, for that matter, as the likes of Jaime Mata and Jorge Molina knew their way around.
“I could not be at home with my arms crossed when my President, my friend, and Getafe needed me. I have affection for the whole family” — Bordalás on his motives for returning to Getafe.
Back in 2015/16, Bordalás had won promotion with Alavés, winning the league whilst racking up the highest number of cards in the division (150). Rather harshly, the Basque outfit decided they needed a separate coach for the highest level and appointed Mauricio Pellegrino. Bordalás was cast aside, but was quickly in at Getafe, and the blueprint was there to be repeated.
Having achieved so much in his first spell, finishing 5th in 2018/19, knocking ajax out of the Europa League in 2020, the objective is less grandiose this time but no less significant. Getafe find themselves in the relegation zone again, and the board deemed Quique Sánchez Flores unable to turn things around.
Bordalás knows what needs to be done. He has the experience of the club and the league to enable fans and players alike to believe in their salvation. It all begins with a colossal match in Cornellà on Sunday as 19th hosts 18th, with three points separating the two. Given that 16th plays 17th earlier in the afternoon (Cádiz vs Valencia), this is a pivotal day in the relegation battle. One thing is certain: those connected with Getafe are Todos A Bordo, strapped in for the re-ride. Bordalás 2.0 has left the station.