Getafe 0 – 1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid narrow the gap with Barcelona back to four points.
Despite resting several key players ahead of the Copa del Rey final, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid delivered a strong performance in the first half against Getafe. Young Turkish talent Arda Güler stole the spotlight with a stunning goal. Getafe had chances after the break but couldn’t convert, allowing Madrid to secure the win and close the gap with league leaders Barcelona once again.
The reigning champions won the La Liga fixture 1-0 on Wednesday night, away at Getafe.
Real now sit second on the table with 72 points from 33 matches (22 wins, 6 draws), four behind Barcelona who have 76 points from the same number of games.
The two giants will meet in the Copa del Rey final this Saturday in Seville, followed by a crucial El Clásico on May 11 in Barcelona, which could ultimately decide the league title.
Ancelotti made six changes from the side that beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0, giving starts to young players like Güler and Endrick. Kylian Mbappé was ruled out due to injury, while Antonio Rüdiger, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modrić, Dani Ceballos, and Rodrygo all started on the bench.
Getafe had a chance just two minutes in, but Luis’s weak shot was easily saved by Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid responded in the 6th minute with a chip shot from Federico Valverde that missed the target after a great through ball from Güler.
Getafe threatened again in the 16th minute through Borja Mayoral’s header, which missed the mark. Shortly after, Fran García forced a good save from keeper David Soria following a clever cutback from Vinícius Jr.
Then came the breakthrough in the 21st minute. After Brahim Díaz’s effort was initially saved, the ball fell to Güler outside the box. The Turkish midfielder created space and unleashed a powerful strike from 20 yards out. Though Soria got a hand to it, he couldn’t keep it out.
Madrid nearly doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Endrick’s shot was cleared off the line after a slick passing exchange with Vinícius.
Getafe came close to equalizing in the 58th minute, but Álvaro Rodríguez’s header flew just over the bar. Three minutes later, Soria denied Brahim Díaz again.
Ancelotti brought on Bellingham for Endrick in the 64th minute, and later swapped Vinícius for Rodrygo and Güler for Ceballos.
Getafe missed their best chance in the 72nd minute, when Mauro Arambarri shot wide from a great position in the box.
Late in the game, Camavinga limped off after a foul — a worrying sign for Real ahead of the Copa final. In stoppage time, Courtois made another crucial save, and finally, in the dying moments, he stopped a powerful shot from Rodríguez to secure all three points.
Getafe remain 12th in the table with 39 points from 33 games.
