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Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid: Match Review
For seven straight matchdays, Real Madrid held onto the number one spot on the La Liga standings. The men in white just could not be taken down and refused to drop points.
That all changed when Carlo Ancelotti’s side took on Osasuna at home last weekend and fell to a tame 1-1 draw. Their underwhelming result saw them fall to second place behind Barcelona and added pressure on them to secure a win against Getafe.
The manager started Andriy Lunin in goal behind a centre-half combination of David Alaba and Eder Militao. Antonio Rudiger started at left-back with Daniel Carvajal playing as a right-back. Luka Modric joined Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in midfield while Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo spearheaded the attack with Federico Valverde.
The game got off to a perfect start for the visitors as they got an early lead through Eder Militao. In just the third minute, the Brazilian got onto the end of Modric’s corner and headed past a helpless David Soria.
Los Blancos then enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for most of the first half and comfortably rode on their early lead. With the pressure on the hosts, it was the ideal situation for Real Madrid.
Getafe came close to equalising in the 22nd minute when Tchouameni easily lost the ball to Carles Alena in his own area. Fabricio Angileri had the chance at his feet but put the ball wide.
Late in the first half, Vinicius Jr was taken down in the Getafe box by Luis Milla. The foul was blatant and the referee pointed to the spot. However, a VAR review revealed that the ball had gone out of play in the sequence of events leading up to the incident, forcing the referee to change his decision.
Los Blancos had the first big chance of the second half when Rodrygo, Tchouameni and Modric had back-to-back shots blocked by Soria. Soon after, Getafe went on the offensive and came close to levelling the score twice.
It seemed like Rodrygo doubled his team’s lead in the 57th minute with a neat finish but it was ruled out for a clear offside position.
Ancelotti left his changes for the 83rd minute when he brought on Nacho and Marco Asensio for Militao and Camavinga. Five minutes later, he brought on Mariano for Rodrygo.
The men in white held onto their narrow lead and sealed their first win at Coliseum Alfonso Perez in four years. The win takes them to provisional first place and all eyes will now be on Barcelona’s clash against Celta Vigo ahead of El Clasico.
The heartbreak at Civitas Metropolitano saw Real Madrid drop down to third on the La Liga standings for the first time this season. They now sit on 15 points from six games, only one point behind leaders Barcelona.
Yet, there is barely time for the team to recover. Less than 72 hours after their defeat, the Merengues play host to Las Palmas in the seventh Matchday of La Liga in a tricky fixture.
Garcia Pimienta’s side have improved leaps and bounds in recent times, although their start to the new season has been far from positive.
Las Palmas were winless in their first five league games but picked up a first win in their most recent outing against Granada.
With the visitors coming off their first win and the hosts their first loss, it will be interesting to see how the game of momentum plays out.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Wednesday’s clash at Santiago Bernabeu.
The important reaction
Having secured six wins in six games under their belt, the threat of breaking the moment was always lurking around the corner from Real Madrid. After all, their wins to that point were not always convincing.
Jude Bellingham’s magic, Joselu’s constant threat and the talented midfield helped Los Blancos on their way to scrappy wins over the weeks. Yet, it was always glaringly clear that they had deficiencies in defence and the final third.
All of Real Madrid’s troubles came to the forefront on Sunday and were left glaringly exposed. The end result was a defeat that left a bitter taste in the mouths of players and fans.
Despite facing their first setback of the season, however, the men in white have no time to lament. After all, the hectic schedule leaves them little time between games.
It is thus of utmost importance that Real Madrid does not slip into a vicious state of negative momentum. As they face off against Las Palmas midweek, Carlo Ancelotti’s side needs a strong and dominant win to keep spirits high.
Considering that they will be back at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid will be the favourites by far on the night. Nevertheless, there will be pressure on the players to take all three points.
Limelight on the manager
The aftermath of the defeat to Atletico Madrid sent ripples through the Spanish media. It was reported that the Real Madrid board was not entirely happy with the list of ‘sins’ committed by Ancelotti in the clash at Civitas Metropolitano.
It thus goes without saying that the limelight will be on the manager on Wednesday.
For starters, the Italian gaffer must get the starting lineup right and not go overboard with his rotations. Aurelien Tchouameni is a must for the Merengues’ defensive efforts and must be introduced back into the lineup midweek.
Moreover, there will be pressure on him to revert to the winning 4-4-2 diamond formation featuring two natural forwards including a striker.
With Joselu returning to the lineup, Jude Bellingham must shift back to his more comfortable attacking midfield role.
Moreover, the manager must strike the right balance between youth and experience, for both Toni Kroos and Luka Modric can no longer start together.
Perhaps the most important job Ancelotti is faced with, however, is in defence. Both David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger appeared lost in the last game, and it remains to be seen if the manager ropes Nacho Fernandez in to strike a better dynamic.
Return of the magician
While Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao are amongst Real Madrid’s most valuable players, it is Vinicius Jr’s injury that hit the club the hardest.
The Merengues unfortunately have a very thin and fragile forward line this season with just three players competing for two spots. Of the three names, Vinicius is the single most important one.
The Brazilian star may not have started the 2023-24 season at his optimal level considering his altered role in the new formation. Yet, he is the Merengues’ most lethal weapon to break open defences and create chances.
The men in white have had problems since the Selecao star hobbled off the field injured against Celta Vigo.
Their games against Getafe and Union Berlin were both down to last-gasp winners, while the defeat to Atletico Madrid showed everything wrong with the team.
Vinicius Jr is set to make his return in tomorrow’s clash at Santiago Bernabeu, and there could be no better news for Ancelotti.
