The 2008-09 campaign was a tense, dramatic fight for survival for Getafe as the Azulones clung onto their top-flight status, finishing a crucial 17th in La Liga. The season was defined by a mid-season managerial change from Víctor Muñoz to Míchel with five games left and relied heavily on the lethal form of striker Roberto Soldado, whose 13 league goals, including a hat-trick against Sporting Gijón, proved decisive. This hard-fought year, which saw the club finish level on points with the relegated Real Betis, remains a defining chapter in their history of securing a place in the Spanish elite.