Getafe booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey this evening with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Almeria.
The Azulones were happy to sit back on their away-goal advantage in a first half devoid of any real chances, before hitting their opponents on the break following the interval to claim a 1-0 win on the night.
Alvaro Vazquez was the man to bag the goal, rounding Julian in the Almeria goal and tapping the ball into an empty net to send his side into the next round.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the action from the Spanish capital below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Copa del Rey last-16 meeting between Getafe and Almeria at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
These two sides could not be separated in the first leg, playing out a 1-1 draw last week. A place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs for the winners here tonight, with extra time and penalties to be played should we need it.
Kickoff in the Spanish capital is less than 30 minutes away now, so let's take a look at how the two sides line up...
TEAM NEWS!
ALMERIA STARTING XI: Julian, Michel, Ximo, Mauro, Mane, Thomas, Azeez, Espinosa, Soriano, Wellington, Teerasil
GETAFE STARTING XI: Jona, Arroyo, Vigaray, Alexis, Escudero, Alex Felip, Pere Milla, Yoda, Diego Castro, Freddy Hinestroza, Emili Buendia
Well Getafe may have gone four games without a win in all competitions, but they will come into this evening's contest confident of progressing through. The Azulones are currently 14th in La Liga and in a real relegation fight, but hopes are high ahead of this last-16 tie.
Having brushed aside Eibar 5-1 over two legs in the last round, they would have looked at this particular draw favourably against one of the few sides actually below them in the league table. While the big boys - Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona - remain in the competition, there is always hope in these parts that a shock can be sprung. Victory tonight and just seven other sides will remain between themselves and the cup.
That said, this fixture clearly hasn't caught the attention of home supporters...
So what about the visitors, then? Well, Almeria are struggling in the league at the moment, failing to pick up a point in their last two outings to see them drop down to 17th place - level on points with the relegation zone. However, prior to this dry spell they had won three games in a row, so they certainly shouldn't be dismissed just yet.
In order to get to this stage Almeria had to see off Real Betis in a thrilling two-legged tie that ended 6-4. Much of the drama came in a first leg which saw the Rojiblancos come out on top by the odd goal in seven. While they are struggling in La Liga, it must be remembered that just a single point separates these two sides coming into this cup clash, and even if their ground is lacking supporters this even the incentive is certainly still there.
FIRST-LEG RECAP: The first leg, which took place just seven days ago, saw the sides play out a 1-1 draw to keep this one finely balanced. Verza was the focal point, first scoring an own goal to give Almeria a vital away goal which could still prove the difference, before tucking away a penalty at the right end to level things up on the hour.
PREDICTION: It wouldn't be too controversial to suggest that this will be a tightly-fought affair which really could go either way. Getafe come into this game with an away goal above their heads, meaning that Almeria simply have to score. In the end I believe that will prove the difference here tonight, with the Rojiblancos progressing on the back of a goalless draw. (I can only apologise for the bleak prediction).
Well kickoff is just moments away now as both sets of players go through their final warm-ups. Let's hope for an open contest here at a deserted Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
KICKOFF! This Copa del Rey quarter-final clash is officially underway in the Spanish capital.
The two sides are using these opening couple of minutes to weight each other up, pretty much as expected. Almeria are knocking the ball around well at the moment, without any real conviction in an attacking sense.
A reminder that Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad and Villarreal are all also in action this evening, and updates will provided from each throughout the night.
The game is being played almost solely in Getafe's half at the moment, with a cross into the box being well cleared away a few moments ago. The hosts happy to soak things up, it seems.
Certainly not the most lively of starts, as Getafe now take control of the ball in large spells. Both sides seem to be well matched at the present time, which is reflected in the first-leg scoreline and also their positions in the La Liga table.
SHOT! Fredy Hinestroza looked to be in behind the Almeria baclkine there for a moment, but instead of holding up the ball from a tight angle he opted to shoot into the side-netting. Wrong choice, which his manager soon let him know!
Getafe almost carved their opponents completely open with some lovely football, but the final ball was just about cut out in the end with the Azulones unable to get a shot away at goal.
That piece of play from Getafe a few minutes ago remains the most inspired attacking move we have seen thus far, with chances few and far between. Remember, a goalless draw will see Almeria progress through this evening, so the onus is very much on their opponents.
Getafe are looking to push forward with some charging runs from midfield, but Almeria are doing well to push high up the field to counteract this.
Castro rather theatrically goes down on the edge of the box claiming a free kick, but the referee disagree and waved play on. Still goalless at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, and still without any real openings for either side.
The home side win a corner which looked to be well delivered, but nobody could quite latch onto the ball which went straight through the box in the end.
YELLOW CARD! Ramon Azeez receives the game's first booking as a result of pulling back Yoda who was looking to break away.
It's all very uninspired at the moment. I hate to say it, but my goalless draw prediction may come trumps on this occasion. That said, you'd very much expect both sides to step things up ahead of the interval.
Soriano puts an inviting cross into the box which, much like everything else we've seen in the opening half-hour, lacks the quality needed to make any sort of difference.
Getafe are now being urged on by their small home following, but are unable to create any substantial moves of note. They simply have to improve.
A small shout for a penalty from the visitors, as Escudero appeared to handle the ball as a free kick came into the box, but the referee seemed to make the correct call by waving play on.
SAVE! At last, a half-decent chance of note has been created. Dangda latched onto a ball through the middle, although he was unable to convert from a tight angle which was made all the more tougher by Jona racing off his line to save down low.
The half looks to be edging to a stalemate, although Almeria have had the better of things, certainly over the last 10 minutes or so. They need to create more chances, but if things continue this way they'll do their chances the world of good.
CLOSE! Big chance for Navarro to edge his side ahead right on the brink of half time, but he is unable to control his header from a corner kick which flies over the bar.
HALF TIME: GETAFE 0-0 ALMERIA
And with that missed chance comes the end of the opening 45 minutes. Often these types of games are described as being like a game of chess as both sides await their opponents move, but that would be giving this Copa del Rey clash too much credit. It has been poor on the whole, although Almeria certainly looked the better side in the final 10 minutes or so.
Chances really have been few and far between, with the best two openings falling the way of the visiting side. Dangda saw his effort kept out by Jona six minutes before the interval, while Navarro headed over the game's best chance on the brink of half time.
UPDATES: As touched on a little earlier, this is not the only Copa del Rey contest taking place right now. Elsewhere this evening, David Moyes's Real Sociedad have battled back from a goal behind to level up on the night against Villarreal, while an out-of-form Athletic Bilbao side and Celta Vigo are also tied at 0-0. Sevilla and Granada kickoff in around an hour's time, meanwhile, full commentary of which can be followed right here.
In terms of this tie at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, well you'd expect Almeria to up their game another notch or two in the knowledge that they need at least one goal to progress here tonight. Getafe are playing a dangerous game as they pretty much soak up the pressure, failing to create any openings of their own. What will give in the second half? Let's find out...
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Almeria get proceedings back underway, looking to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Incidentally, both sides remain unchanged for this second half as Juan Ignacio Martinez and Quique Flores opt to stick with what they have for the time being.
Macedo has been the game's best player so far with his bursting runs down the flank, and Almeria will no doubt be looking to him to make an impact in this second half.
Some good play by Wellington Silva down the left sees some space upon up for the visitors, but he is unable to pick out a teammate with Jona easily collecting. Almeria are continuing to knock on the door, without truly troubling their opponents.
Things are getting a little more tense as you would expect with this two-legged tie now in its final quarter. Almeria certainly look the stronger side, but they need to do more if they are to edge ahead. As things stand Getafe will be in the hat for the quarter-finals.
YELLOW CARD! Escudero's crunching challenge allows the Azulones to swing in a free kick which Jona, not for the first time today, collects with relative ease.
Getafe continuing to press without any real conviction at the moment. There's plenty of movement on the bench, so maybe a change of personnel can inspire them to a goal? They have a little over 30 minutes remaining to find the net and rescue their cup campaign.
ALMERIA SUBS: Double substitution time for the visitors, who have introduced Romera and Sanchez on the hour. Wellington and Teerasil are the men to depart.
Let's hope that can spring the game to life a little further, because right now there's only one way this one is heading. Not to blow my own trumpet, but I did predict a goalless draw from the outset... This is all my fault!
GETAFE SUB: Yoda's evening comes to an end, with Vazquez the man to replace him. I've done well to keep the Star Wars jokes to one side during the midfielder's time on the field.
SHOT! Jona is quick off his line to clear the ball before any opposition player could latch onto it. He's been Getafe's best player this evening as he quietly goes about his work between the sticks. That came just moments after Sanchez shot over the bar from a difficult angle. A shot, nonetheless.
SAVE! Best moment of the game so far by a mile, which culminated in Julian producing a fantastic stop to deny Getafe a 2-1 aggregate lead. El Geta hit their opponents on the break two-on-two, although Vazquez couldn't convert when the ball was squared across goal into the centre of the box, with Julian denying the substitute.
GOAL! GETAFE 1-0 ALMERIA (VAZQUEZ)
The goal looked to be coming over the past few minutes as Getafe continuously hit their goal-chasing opponents on the break, and they managed to find a way through courtesy of substitute Alvaro Vazquez, who rounded the keeper before tucking the ball into an empty net. As simple as you like.
YELLOW CARD! Thomas is shown a yellow card following his challenge on Diego Castro.
Well if you're a glass half full type then that goal doesn't really change a great deal. The difference being that an Almeria goal will now take the game to extra time, while they need two to progress through to the quarters.
ALMERIA SUB: Final change for the visitors as Ramon Azeez departs with Jose Angel on in his place. Ten minutes for the Azulones to salvage something.
Almeria looking to push forward, as they have done pretty much throughout this second half, but as I've said countless times before they are not showing enough to warrant a goal. More chances need to be created if they are to find the goal that's needed to take this one to extra time.
YELLOW CARD! Michel is the latest player to enter the referee's notebook as time continues to tick away for Almeria.
A couple of hopeful balls played into the path of absolutely no-one pretty much sums up the frustration for Rojiblancos' supporters right now. Disappointing night for them.
It looks to be all over for Almeria. They simply can't find a way through, and it will take something drastic for that to change in the next couple of minutes.
The ball is in the Getafe half at the moment with a minute of added time left to play.
FULL TIME: GETAFE 1-0 ALMERIA
There we have it, as the referee brings the game to a close to signal the end of Almeria's Copa del Rey campaign. It was anything but a classic, but in the end Getafe managed to do what was needed to secure their passage into the quarter-finals.
That's all from me for now, but be sure to stick around on as we bring you live coverage of Sevilla's clash against Granada at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan in a few moments time.
