Spanish La Liga: Real Madrid suffer first defeat in 2022
Real Madrid dropped in on their neighbours for the New Year and came away feeling much worse losing 1-0 at Getafe.
Quique Sanchez Flores’ side deserved their three points as the league leaders conceded early with sloppy defending and never managed to beat on form home keeper David Soria.
It was another afternoon to forget for Eden Hazard. He never made the starting line-up despite the absence of Vinicius because of a Covid positive. And when he came on at the break he could not haul Madrid back into the game.
Madrid were behind just 11 minutes into the game and it was a mistake by Eder Militao that led to the goal. He was robbed of possession by Enes Unal who shot past Thibaut Courtois.
Getafe’s advantage was almost doubled when Militao’s partner David Alaba sent an awkward back pass to Courtois and he cleared but Nemanja Maksimovic was gifted with a chance he did not expect and wasn’t able to accept.
Luka Modric led Madrid’s response. His first shot was finger-tipped wide by Soria for a corner. And his second strike came crashing off the crossbar.
Modric was electric in the first 25 minutes and his sublime pass to Rodrygo almost created another opening but Getafe stepped out so that Madrid were offside as they tried to continue the move.
For all the concerns over losing players through Covid positives Madrid were nearly at full strength but they were missing talisman Vinicius and Getafe kept them at bay.
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Carlo Ancelotti cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, booked when Getafe stole yards with a throw-in and he lambasted the officials he did nothing to stop the throw being taken.
Getafe, in contrast, were on such a high that Damian Suarez tried audaciously to beat Courtois with a shot from his own half.
They could have gone in 2-0 up but Militao deflected Alaba’s shot from Suarez’ cross out for a corner that came to nothing.
Ancelotti made two changes at the break bringing on Hazard for the ineffective Marcos Asensio and replacing Ferland Mendy with Marcelo.
Both subs linked up well with Benzema on the hour but the Frenchman’s shot was blocked and Real Madrid could do nothing from the corner.
Marcelo was having fun down the left with a licence to just attack. His cross came out to Casemiro and the midfielders shot would have found the corner had David Soria not got across to save at full stretch.
For once Madrid had got beyond Getafe’s impressive three-man centre defence but the keeper had foiled them. Mariano was next to go close. He had come on up front with Benzema and Hazard but he could not keep his header down.
With seven minutes left Ancelotti took the more drastic measures of bringing on Isco and 19-year-old Peter Gonzalez for only his second appearance this season.
Left-footed winger Peter went to right-back and with Marcelo on the other side Madrid were now more open to the counter.
As the board was raised for added time revealing seven minutes, Isco might have got the leveller but keeper Soria made the save once more. Getafe deserved all three points
