Villarreal needed a late free kick golazo from Bruno (84') to defeat Getafe 1-0 and put one foot in the door in Copa del Rey semifinal.

Villarreal dominated possession and play throughout the first half. And from the opening whistle Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev helped to create many of the Submarines' first half chances. In the match's eighth minute, Cheryshev played in Gerard Moreno, but the young Spanish star put his effort over the bar. Nine minutes later, Cheryshev played in Giovani dos Santos, but the Mexican international's effort was saved by the Getafe keeper.

Villarreal kept of the relenting pressure on the Getafe defense, and Giovani dos Santos got the side's best chance of the first half when he was played through on a ball over the top. However, the Mexico international was a yard offsides when he started the run, so the goal did not count. 

The Mexican international had the Yellow Submarine's next chance in the 53rd, when he got past several defenders with a spin move on a run darting inside the penalty area. But several Getafe defenders closed him down to win the ball back. 

Ten minutes later, Giovanni dos Santos rounded Jona and tried to poke a weak shot into the open goal, but several Getafe's defenders raced back in time to recover the ball before it crossed the line. Jona was forced into action again in the 71st minute, saving a Gerard Moreno shot from inside the penalty area.

Thirteen minutes later, Villarreal finally opened the scoring as Bruno curled a direct free kick from right outside the penalty area, over the Getafe wall, and past Jona.  Bruno's goal would prove to be the only one in the match as the Yellow Submarines finish the opening leg with a clean sheet. The two sides will play the return leg at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on 28 January.

On the weekend, Getafe returns to their quest for La Liga survival when they host Celta de Vigo on Monday, 26 January. Villarreal will continue their push for a Champions League place on 24 January, when they host relegation-threatened Levante. The winner of the tie will play the winner of the Barcelona-Atletico tie in the semifinal.

NOTES: Mexican international midfielders Javier Aquino and Jonathan dos Santos were rested for this match.