Getafe 2 - Racing Santander 1

Getafe: Pato Abbondanzieri; David Cortés, De la Red, Tena, Licht; Celestini, Casquero; Mario Cotelo (Pablo Hernández 46'), Albín (Uche 55'), Gavilán (Signorino 79'); Braulio. 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Toño; Sergio Sánchez, Oriol, Marcano, Luis Fernández; Pablo Alvarez (Munitis 70'), Orteman, Moratón (Colsa 66'), Jonathan Valle (Jorge López 60'); Iván Bolado, Smolarek. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Getafe: De la Red, Licht, Albín, Gavilán for Belenguer, Signorino, Pablo Hernández, Manu del Moral / Racing: Sergio Sánchez, Oriol, Marcano, Luis Fernández, Orteman, Moratón, Jonathan Valle, Iván Bolado, Smolarek for Pinillos, Garay, César Navas, Ayoze, Duscher, Colsa, Jorge López, Tchité, Munitis.

Goals:
0-1. 54. Smolarek. Ran forward to head Moratón's long cross past Abbondanzieri.
1-1. 66. Uche. Got on end of Pablo's lofted cross to volley first time past Toño.
2-1. 76. Gavilán. Header from close up after Casquero lifted ball past keeper.

Racing Santander drop down to seventh in the table after they were beaten 2-1 by Getafe. The two sides meet again in their cup semi-final next Wednesday, and visiting coach Marcelino made nine changes to his line up in preparation. Even so they dominated the first half, Iván Bolado and Jonathan Valle having shots blocked and Smolarek netting twice, only for the strikes to be ruled out for offside and then a previous foul.

All the goals came after the break, Smolarek heading the Cantabrians in front from Moratón's long cross ten minutes after the restart. Uche equalised though with a first time volley past Toño, and Gavilán headed what was to prove the winner from close up after Casquero forced the ball past the keeper.

It was too much for Toño, who kicked Gavilán from behind and then got involved in a brawl with Braulio, referee Iturralde González showing a red card to the keeper and a second yellow to the striker, who both had to leave the field of play. With all three changes already made that meant that central defender Marcano had to play in goal for the last quarter of an hour, but he proved a worthy replacement with a couple of saves from Uche late on.