Real Madrid Suffers First Home Loss to Getafe Since 2008
Real Madrid suffered its first home defeat to neighbor Getafe since 2008, falling 0-1 on Monday in the finale of the 26th round of the Spanish football league, allowing Barcelona to stay four points ahead at the top.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa's team entered the match on the heels of a 1-2 loss to Osasuna in the previous round, which let Barcelona reclaim the lead just a week after handing it over to the royal club.
Barcelona sealed its strong clash with Villarreal on Saturday with a big 4-1 win, temporarily widening the gap to four points—but Real confirmed that margin after failing to secure a ninth straight victory over Getafe, who notched their first win at their giant neighbor's stadium since February 2008.
With star striker Kylian Mbappe absent in Paris treating a knee sprain he's had since year-end, Real dominated the early going. Vinicius Junior had a golden chance to open scoring when the Brazilian went one-on-one with keeper David Soria, but the latter shone and saved his team (13').
Soria starred again, this time against Turkish player Arda Guler (24'), before Getafe stunned their neighbor by opening the score on their first shot between the posts—via Uruguayan Martin Satriano with a stunning volley from outside the box, beyond Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois' reach (39').
After a chance for Real via a header from Frenchman Aurelien Tchouameni that Soria blocked on the line (42'), the royal club went into halftime trailing its modest neighbor.
Real looked helpless reaching the visitors' goal at the start of the second half, prompting Arbeloa to bring on Brazilian Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, and Dean Huijsen at once for Thiago Beitia, Englishman Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Austrian David Alaba in succession (55').
But nothing changed despite Vinicius' attempt after cutting in from the left and trying to chip Soria, who shone again to save his team (58').
For the first time in the match, Soria erred on a corner kick exit, reaching German defender Antonio Rudiger—but his header sailed wide (76').
Carvajal then squandered a golden chance when a header from Rodrygo found him at the far post with an open goal, but he failed to finish properly (79').
Real ended its chances with an attempt from Argentine Franco Mastantuono that Soria—undoubtedly the match's star—parried (90').
Mastantuono didn't finish the game, as the referee showed him a red card after the 18-year-old directed words and a hand over his mouth at him, without clarifying what was said (90'+5).
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