Jaime Mata 2019/20 – scout report

A six-game winless run in their final six La Liga matches condemned Getafe CF to an eighth-place league finish – missing out on a Europa League position by just two points. José Bordalás and Getafe will be disappointed that they missed out, especially as they were flirting with European qualification all season and put in some excellent performances early on in the prolonged 2019/20 campaign. Getafe set out to frustrate their opposition. They defend with solidity and discipline, which is exemplified by the fact they only conceded 37 goals in the league this season. This defending begins right up the pitch with the attackers, and striker Jaime Mata is an integral cog in both Getafe’s defensive and attacking machines. He is a hard-working forward, and this scout report will provide a tactical analysis of just how big a part Jaime Mata plays in the Getafe team.

Overview

Jaime Mata joined Getafe in July of 2018 on a free transfer as a 29-year-old. In the 2017/18 season, he scored 35 goals in 43 games for Real Valladolid and led them back to La Liga. The following season, he scored 16 and assisted 6 in what was his first-ever season in La Liga, firing Getafe into the Europa League group stages. Now, at 31, Mata is showing no signs of slowing down. The Spaniard works tirelessly in the rigid system employed by Bordalás and still contributes effectively in front of goal. To further understand his role in the team, we will address his heatmap from the season.

The wide areas are deeply coloured, which initially seems strange for a central-striker. However, this is explained by both the pressing style and attacking methods of Getafe. While the favoured formation of José Bordalás is 4-4-2, Getafe press in a system which more resembles a 4-3-3. This consists of a central-midfielder pushing up in-between the two strikers and the wide midfielders tucking in centrally, meaning that it is the two strikers who press the wide areas. Mata is also frequently positioned on the flanks in attack, as Getafe like to hit balls over the top into the channels for their tenacious strikers to chase. We finally can see the penalty area coloured, which gives evidence for the poaching tendencies of Mata.

These three features of his game will be explained further throughout this report, as we explain the role of Mata in the Getafe team. It is obvious that the Spaniard’s play style is a product of the system his manager employs, but Mata suits these roles perfectly.