Getafe-Real Madrid: as it happened
Zidane's men reduce Barça's league lead to one point and temporarily pull themselves in front of Atleti after brushing Getafe aside at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
And with that the ref puts Getafe out of their misery. No shocks at the Coliseum as in-form Real Madrid made light work of los azulones, subjecting Esnaider's charges to a third consecutive league defeat. All three components of the much heralded BBC got on the scoresheet while James and Isco both gave good accounts of themselves. Zidane's men are now just one point behind Barça and have temporarily pulled in front of Atleti who play Granada tomorrow. Getafe meanwhile are starring the second division square in the eyes now as they find themselves rock bottom of La Liga.
Min 90 + 2 | RONALDO! 1-5! It's not a real Getafe-Real Madrid clash until Cristiano scores. The Portuguese marksman leaves it late this time, tapping in the easiest of chances after Jesé does all the hard work.
Min 90 | Nacho goes in the book for a silly push on Scepovic.
Min 87 | AND ANOTHER!!! 1-4!! James wasn't having that!!! Lucas Vázquez tears down the right wing after some lovely triangular passing moves from the away team. The Galician cuts a pass back to the penalty spot where his Colombian team-mate calmly takes a touch to take the ball out of his feet, sends Vigaray flying past him with another and then slots home to get his first of the afternoon.
Min 84 | GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's Getafe this time! Pablo Sarabia hits the onion bag with a peach of a shot. Too little too late but pretty nonetheless. Getafe 1 - 3 Real Madrid.
Min 80 | With a three-goal cushion propping them up, Zidane's men have lost their attacking verve somewhat.
Min 76 | The Costa Rican makes up for his error with a stellar bit of goalkeeping to keep Sarabia's short-range effort out.
Min 75 | Getafe are looking a bit more lively now and win an indirect free kick in Madrid's six-yard box after a Marcelo back-pass to Navas.
Min 72 | Ronaldo is set free on the right and has a blast but a last ditch tackle by Vigaray keeps the Portugal international off the score sheet.
Min 67 | Having broken his best La Liga goalscoring record (22), Benzema is brought off for Jesé.
Min 64 | Sarabia draws a save from Keylor Navas. Getafe's top scorer's weak effort takes a deflection on its way towards the target, forcing the Costa Rican to make a one-armed reflex save.
Min 61 | Los azulones are getting a bit feisty now. Pedro Leon takes down Marcelo after a salt-in-the-wounds nutmeg from the Brazilian and then Alvaro flies through the back of Ronaldo soon after, and picks up a booking for his trouble.
Min 57 | Zidane reshuffles his pack, bringing on Lucas Vazquez for Bale. the ex-Tottenham winger not best pleased with the decision.
Min 55 | Bale hits the right byline and squares a ball across the face of goal. Guaita gets down low to get a hand to the pass before Cristiano can join his BBC counterparts on the score sheet.
Min 52 | Both teams make substitutions: Carvajal makes way for Nacho while Lacen comes off for Buendia.
Min 49 | 3-0!!!! Benzema dinks a ball over the Getafe defenders who are left in Gareth Bale's dust. The Welshman thunders through on goal and finishes clinically into the bottom corner.
Min 46 | The team talks are over and the action resumes...
Half time at the Coliseum: Getafe 0 - 2 Real Madrid
No surprises as the teams make their way back to the dressing rooms. Madrid are in total control of this one and are on course to record a seventh-straight league win, while the hosts' will need a second-half miracle if their woeful run of form is to come to a halt.
Min 45 | Isco comes close to adding another to his tally right before the break, driving a shot goalwards and into the arms of the keeper. The Andalusian is making the most of the opportunity afforded to him today by Zidane.
Min 42 | The handbags are out. Bale and Pedro Leon exchange off-the-ball shoves. The ref steps in to pacify the situation. Then Suarez goes in the book for mouthing off after conceding a free-kick.
Min 39 | 2-0!!!!!!!!! Not wanting to be upstaged by James, Isco gets in on the action with a surging run through midfield. The ex-Málaga man links up with Benzema before coolly slipping the ball under Guaita with the outside of his foot to compound Juan Esnaider's debut day misery.
Min 36 | Like a tank of starved fish at feeding time, los blancos are swarming all over the Getafe players each time they lose possession. SCepovic and Vazquez aren't getting a sniff of the ball up front.
Min 32 | James is brimming with confidence now. The Colombian has another go at setting up Ronaldo but the Madeira native fails to convert the chance. Madrid win a corner and Sarabia does well to nip in ahead of CR7 at the near post and clear the danger.
As things stand Zidane's men are now just one point behind Barça. My oh my, how quickly things have changed.
Min 30 | GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! Benzema bundles a James cross into the back of the net. Yoda's Jedi mind tricks are rendered useless against the Madrid number 10 who, given acres of space by the Frenchman, whips in an inviting ball towards El Gato at the back stick.
Min 25 | James pulls the trigger from distance put sends his shot the wrong side of the post. The Colombian, who has plenty to prove to Zidane, has been Madrid's most lively man in attack this afternoon.
Min 23 | Penalty shout for los merengues! Ronaldo rises to meet a James corner but Vigaray makes sure he fails to connect with his noggin by slyly pulling on his shirt.
Min 18 | Pedro Leon is showing he's up for today's clash against his former club. The one-time canterano is keeping Marcelo on his toes whenever Getafe get on the ball.
Min 17 | Zizou's all-out-attacking line-up is finding plenty of width but Vergini and Vigaray are dealing admirably with the crosses from the flanks.
Min 15 | Ronaldo rattles the woodwork! Nice interplay between the number 7 and James once again.
Min 12 | Madrid trouble the home side for the first time. James breaks down the left side, cuts a pass across the goal mouth for Ronaldo, who appears to forget to connect with the ball.
Min 8 | Yoda comes on for Pereira. The Uruguayan hit the deck a few minutes ago and had to come off to receive treatment.
Min 4 | Madrid win a free-kick on the left side of Getafe's box. Ronaldo steps up and blasts the ball straight into the wall. No Wolfsburg-sized holes appear for the Portuguese striker on this occasion.
Min 3 | James has a crack from outside the box with his right boot but Guaita gets down quick to block the danger.
Min 1 | José Luis González blows his whistle to get the action started...
April showers and high ticket prices mean Juan Esnáider's inaugural match in charge of El Geta will take place in a half-empty Coliseum. Lest we forget los blancos are a mere 22.4 km down the road from their own ground.
The two starting line-ups have been confirmed:
Getafe XI: Guaita; Suarez, Carlos Vigaray, Vergini, Pereira; Pedro Leon, Lacen, Rodriguez, Sarabia; Scepovic
Real Madrid XI: Keylor; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Isco, Kroos, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Getafe-Real Madrid (kick-off 16:00 CET)
It's third versus bottom as Real Madrid make the short journey to the Madrid suburbs to face Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez (kick-off at 16:00 CET).
Zinedine Zidane is anxious that his squad forget about the Champions League and concentrate on a LaLiga chase that two weeks ago was deemed impossible. Barcelona's poor form in the league (securing just one point from a possible nine) has seen their lead at the summit cut to just three points over Atletico and four ahead of Madrid. A win for Zidane's team would see them move to just one point of their Catalan rivals with Barça in action tomorrow (at home to Valencia).
Objectives are very different at Getafe. The "Big Blues" (Azulones) as their nickname suggests are rock bottom of the LaLiga table following Levant'es 2-1 win over Espanyol last night and are facing a serious relegation battle that could see their successive rum of 12 seasons in Spain's top flight come to an end. President Torres has stated that three wins from the remaining game will see his side safe. The uphill task ahead for new coach Juan Esnaider starts today with the visit of Madrid.