Álvaro García put Rayo ahead after 11 minutes, but Martín Satriano equalised in the 56th minute, rewarding Getafe’s efforts after they had spent much of the contest a man down. The match also marked Dani Carvajal’s first appearance for Getafe, with the former Real Madrid defender starting just days after his signing was confirmed.
José Bordalás praised his team’s response but admitted the repeated dismissals had become a serious concern.
“We’re not entirely happy. The team made a huge effort and recovered again. It was another exercise in survival. There have been too many red cards and we have to correct that immediately; we cannot allow it to continue,” he said.
“The important thing is that the team never gave up. Everyone knows we’ve made a tremendous effort, and we were coming off Thursday’s match.”
Carvajal was one of the positives for Bordalás, who believes the experienced defender has already made a strong impression on his new team-mates.
“He was very good, and I have to congratulate him. He’s a professional, and he has demonstrated that throughout his career. He’s integrated very quickly and he’s a leader,” the Getafe coach said.
“He’s a great professional, and we’re delighted to have him. Everyone in the group is happy. He’s going to give us a great deal this season.”
Carvajal eventually had to come off after experiencing cramp, having gone almost five months without playing a match. Getafe’s numerical disadvantage made the workload more demanding, while Bordalás felt his side needed to make better use of its strengths in wide areas.
Rayo coach Beñat San José was frustrated that his team had not turned its first-half advantage into a win. He felt his players had created the conditions to secure all three points but failed to finish the job.
“We’re leaving frustrated because we did everything to win. Getafe defended well, and we had to be patient. The first half was extraordinary, and the red card came because we put the opposition under pressure,” he said.
“A point away from home is usually positive, but given the circumstances, it feels like too little.”
San José also rejected the idea that a lack of competitive rhythm explained Rayo’s failure to score again, insisting that breaking down Getafe’s defensive structure was always going to be difficult.
The draw leaves both sides with work to do, but Getafe will take encouragement from their fightback. Bordalás also sent a message of support to people affected by the tragedy in Valencia, expressing his sympathy for the victims’ families.