Getafe 0-0 Real Madrid: match report

A heavily depleted Real Madrid side scraped a 0-0 draw at Getafe on Sunday in LaLiga to fall three points behind leaders Atlético Madrid.

Real beat Barcelona 2-1 last week and overcame Liverpool in midweek to reach the Champions League semi-finals but were crippled by the absence of nine players due to either injury, suspension or covid-19 positives.

Forward Mariano had an early goal ruled out for offside after a VAR review but Getafe had far more and far better opportunities, hitting the woodwork in the first half and being thwarted by two fine saves from Thibaut Courtois in the second.

The draw interrupted a run of four straight league wins for Zinedine Zidane's side and left them second on 67 points after 31 games, three behind leaders Atlético who thrashed Eibar 5-0 earlier in the day. (Reporting by Richard Martin)

Courtois was a busy man tonight

Three points adrift

With two points dropped, the title defence is made all that more difficult for Los Blancos. But with Atlético and Barça still to meet, expect more twists and turns before this season is over.

FULL-TIME

Peep, peep, peeeep! The final whistle blows.

Angel breaks into the Madrid area on the right but under pressure. The ball may have been knocked out for a corner but it doesn't look as though there will be time to take it.

Modric goes it alone, cuts outside one, then inside another. His final shot is smothered by the defenders that close him down.

Madrid have a corner (which came after a poor Odriozola cross, something Benzema was quick to point out).

The deadball is wasted and Getafe break away.

Unal OFF, Josete ON

Four added minutes

Vini getting frustated as he tries a couple of times to get the better of the defender facing him up.

Fails to go past on both occasions.

Modric lifts a perfectly weighted ball over the Getafe defence and first time Odriozola attempts to volley it across goal. The full-back gets it all wrong and slices it out for a goal kick.

Time running out for Madrid, and their hosts look most like scoring.

Cucurella into the book for a clumsy challenge in the middle of the park. Can Madrid fashion something from it?

Angel has been a major influence since coming on and gets round the back of Militao before crossing. Dealt with by the Madrid defence.

Madrid need their own piece of genius right now

Penalty check for Getafe

Angel gets a soft shot away but may have been hindered by a Militao boot while shooting.

The penalty check is over. Not given!

Big save from Courtois

Madrid's last line of defence reacts really well to a deflected effort from Maksimovic. It looks as the ball is dipping in over him before he throws himself and tips over.

Sergio Arribas on for Asensio

Damian Suarez on for Aleña

Angel the latest player into the book after throwing an elbow back in the face of Odriozola, who lets out a scream. That could easily have been a red.

Benzema's first contribution comes to nothing, under pressure from the Getafe defence, after a neat ball into him from Isco.

Angel just wide

Getafe again on the attack. The ball is worked to the recently introduced player who steadies himself and fires in from around 18-yards out.

Courtois watches as it bounces wide.

Nyom has time to pick out a teammate in the centre of the Madrid area, or even just make it difficult to defend. It's a promising position.

Instead he does something that should only be mocked by his coaches when they review the tape. A reminder that even professional footballers can be rubbish at times.

He's been the busier of the two keepers thus far

Getafe change: Mata OFF, Angel ON

Madrid change: Rodrygo & Mariano OFF, Blanco & Benzema ON

Before the subs get on, Modric sets up a promising attack with the most delightful pass with the outside of his right boot to play in Odriozola down the left.

The passes that followed were less precise.

If Los Blancos are going to get something from this game they need to change things up.

It looks like Benzema could be about to help do that...

Cameras out for Courtois

Brilliant save from the Madrid stopper, flying up to his right to tip the top-corner-bound effort from Unal finding its target.

The dangerous break all came from some really slow and sloppy play from Marcelo in the middle of the park.

Nyom fouls Vini and joins him in the book.

Courtois again called into action. Olivera this time with the effort: not as hard but forces the keeper to move quickly.

The game is not going to plan for Zidane.

SAVE! Courtois well behind a strong strike from Timor.

Vinicius is into the book

A decent amount of space had opened up for Getafe to create but Vini spotted it and committed the foul that gets him first place in the ref's notes.

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Modric and Isco slow things down in the middle of the park as they eye a way to carve open their opponents. The ball is recycled a couple of times and then Mariano comes from deep to collect the forward pass.

He's left an offside position though and the flag is raised.

Mariano is back on - although Benzema was immediately sent to warm up just in case - and looks able to continue.

Both Mariano and Olivera appear to have taken a knock after a hopeful ball was swung in for them to challenge.

It's the Madrid striker who looks most in bother and is taken to the side of the pitch for some treatment.

Aleña tries his luck from outside the area but it's blocked well. Again the hosts have started brightly.

It didn't take long for Getafe to win the ball back and Cucurella lofts a ball into the area only for Courtois to come out and claim.

Peeep!! Madrid get the ball rolling

OK, players are back out here. Almost time to get going again...

MLS big game action

Out of interest, if you fancy keeping an eye on what is going on with Inter Miami vs LA Galaxy, join Paul here.

There are a few links in that game and with Madrid.

There certainly wasn't a lot in that Mariano offside... and both the player and his gaffer will be delighted at the way he took the pass on, rounded the keeper and slotted it home.

Getafe 0-0 Real Madrid: first-half musings

Those happiest with this result so far will be the fans of Atlético, Barça...and maybe Chelsea.

This stretched Madrid side - in terms of players available - is struggling to assume their dominance on a team fighting off relegation. Getafe are well worth being on even terms at the break and will hope to be able to keep up their work levels for the second half, especially as there could be some reinforcements off the bench for Zidane.

But what about that Mariano goal ruled out?...

HALF-TIME

Peep! Whistle blows for half-time.

Arambarri almost gets a shooting chance but brilliant covering from Militao keeps him at bay. Looks like that will be that.

CHANCE! Aleña gets what is likely to be the final attempt of the half, leaning back as he strikes which takes the ball high.

We'll have two minutes added on

Rodrygo cuts in from the left after good play from Marcelo and Asensio. His curling effort has plenty of power but smacks off the head of a Maksimovic and away.

Cucurella gets another chance to fire inside the Madrid area but it's blocked well and the visitors clear at the third attempt.

Excellent move from Madrid

It all started from a Cucurella chance at the other end but then Rodrygo broke from deep.

As Los Blancos added support to the attack, Asensio and Isco got involved, the latter feeding the overlapping Odriozola to send in the cross from the right.

Vinicius met it well but his header lacked real power and Soria gathered easily.

Los Blancos seem to want to take the sting out of this game, knocking the ball around in the middle third of the pitch.

Their hosts then add more pressure and Asensio is sent scampering down into the right corner. Under more pressure he loses possession.

Getafe record vs top 6

Seven defeats out of ten so far this season. Certainly putting up a good showing in this first half.

Nice enough ball into the danger zone from Maksimovic but none of his teammates on the same wavelength and Madrid clear.

Mariano almost

A delicious ball in from Marcelo allows the striker to challenge with Soria around the six-yard box. Mariano seems to win the ball with his shoulder, knocking it towards goal for a tap-in.

But it's Timor who reacts quickest and clears.

Isco tries to get things moving in the midfield but it's the blue shirts of his hosts that seem to be working harder thus far.

Mata hits the upright

A lovely cross is met with just as nice a glancing header from the Getafe forward which seems to have beaten a diving Courtois but bounces away off the far post.

The hosts are edging this game so far.

Vinicius gets his first real involvement, with a chance to stretch his legs down the left. The Brazilian, who impressed so much against Liverpool in the first leg, cuts inside but is muscled out of it.

Unal is screaming for a free-kick at the edge of the Madrid penalty box but the ref is having none of it.

A second look suggests the foul, if it had been called, was right on the line of the area. Would have been an interesting VAR check.

Corner swung into the mixer but there's a Belgian with gloves on who calls that bread and butter.

Getafe have started really well, maybe sensing that this weakened Madrid side is there for the taking.

Unal played into space on the right and it takes some close monitoring of the situaton from young Chust to shut down his threat. Corner to the hosts.

Modric plays a slide-rule pass through six players in blue shirts to find Mariano's run into the Getafe area.

It appears that the striker will take it in his stride but strong defending prevents him from creating a shooting opportunity.

Arambarri inches wide

This game has started brilliantly and is end to end. Cucurella feeds in his teammate around 12 yards from goal but Arambarri drags it just wide as Courtois looked on.

Goal ruled out!

Gooooaaaa... wait a minute.

Mariano has the ball in the net for Madrid but VAR is having a look. Potential offside...

SAVE!! Courtois and the Madrid defence are having the busier of starts.

Olivera gets in behind and almost directs the free-kick into the net, but the keeper was quick to react.

First real chance for Madrid to get forward.

Odriozola almost escapes then has to turn back and when Mariano is then asked to hold up play in the area he's forced into a mistake.

Marcelo winces as Alena goes through the back of him. One of those 'I'll let him know early that I'm here' type challenges.

The Brazilian seems fine to continue.

A couple of early crosses having to be dealt with by Courtois. They're both swung in high so the big Belgian rises and claims without much problem.

Getafe get us underway, shooting right to left as we watch, decked out in their bright blue kits head to toe.

Immediately they move the ball quickly into Marcelo's area but Madrid do well to win it back.

Peeeeep! We're off!

Right, the teams are out on the pitch and we're getting very close to kick-off.

Marcelo is the Madrid captain tonight, and he goes through the customary fist bumps and coin toss with Getafe's Djen.

Getafe vs Real Madrid: form guide

Could these sides be more contrasting? It's been a while since Getafe have tasted victory in the league - a 3-0 home win over Valencia at the beginning of March - and have seen two defeats bookending three draws in their last five.

Madrid on the other hand are forgetting what a loss is. Incredibly the last one came against Levante back in January.

The missing Benzema factor

This graphic clearly shows how dependent Madrid have been on their French frontman, his 19 goals having helped propel them back into the title race, one that seemed lost only a few weeks ago.

His absence obviously hands an opportunity to others to show their worth, with Mariano and Rodrygo eyeing it more than most.

Season stats comparison

A quick look at this season's LaLiga statistics (h/t SofaScore) shows why these two sides are battling at different ends of the table.

Getafe will do everything they can to avoid defeat number 15 and one of the factors that could help with this is the absence of Benzema.

Courtois warming up

If you only popped into this feed to witness the joy of two goalkeepers going through their pre-match routine to the sounds of Crash with El Canto Del Loco then you really have been served up a treat.

The pleasure was all mine.

Breakaway Super League

It's fair to say that the general feeling - gleaned from a vigorous review of social media - is that most people are not in favour of the proposed breakway.

Joe has one suggestion that may dampen the desire for the executives at the top looking to earn even more big bucks with this move.

FOOTBALL

UEFA and FAs respond firmly to breakaway Super League threat

A story that could impact in a big way on LaLiga Santander has been escalating in the last few hours.

Could Real Madrid and the other perceived elite clubs in Europe head off in their own direction? I'm not in favour of the idea, for what it's worth!

UEFA's response in full and all the details

REAL MADRID

Real Madrid team news: Fede Valverde out of Getafe game due to coronavius contact

As well as missing a number of players today due to injury, Fede Valverde became the third Real Madrid player currently in isolation due to the coronavirus.

The club confirmed in a statement published on its website that the Uruguayan midfielder is now in quarantine after having been in direct contact with a person who has tested positive for covid-19. Although the player himself has tested negative in all tests that he has undergone.

Full story

Mariano instead of Benzema

The surprising, not actually that surprising news, for Los Blancos is that top scorer Karim Benzema has been given a rest tonight, along with Toni Kroos.

Both players have been crucial in Madrid's recent good performances and it will be interesting to see how they cope without them.

The other big change is the use of Victor Chust alongside Eder Militao in the heart of the defence. The youngster, who captains the reserve team, may be getting some close attention from the Getafe frontline.

Starting line-up: Real Madrid

Courtois; Odriozola, Militao, Victor, Marcelo; Modric, Rodrygo, Isco, Asensio, Vinícus; Mariano

Starting line-up: Getafe

Soria; Nyom, Dakonam, Timor, Olivera; Arambarri, Maksimovic; Aleñá, Ünal, Cucurella; Mata

We're hearing that team news is coming up...

Madrid en route

No plane required for this away match, just a comfy half-hour coach ride down south.

Getafe fans' mixed thoughts

The Getafe community manager has reminded its followers of the score the last time these two sides met here in the league - a three nil away victory helping Madrid on their way to another Liga title - and asked what they think will happen this time around.

From scanning the replies, there is not a lot of optimism around.

How it stands: Real Madrid

A win tonight would see Los Blancos close the gap once again to just a single point, with seven games (21 points) still to play.

The remaining games for the top three clubs appear, on paper at least, to slightly favour the reigning champions, with the other two still to play each other.

How they stand: Getafe

Sitting just three points off the relegation zone, anything José Bordalás' team can get from this game against the champions will be seen as a bonus.

It's likely to be a nerve-biting run in for the club that is in its fourth consecutive top flight season.

Real Madrid ready

Los Blancos go into this game on the back of an impressive 10 days. Overcoming Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals was one thing but sandwiched between those ties was the small matter of El Clásico.

Zidane's side came through that challenge with flying colours, taking them above their eternal rivals in the table, although some questions are now being asked about the toll the recent run may have had on the squad. More on that to come.

Getafe ready

The hosts have their own reasons to come away with something from this game and the social media team will no doubt have some exciting graphics lined up for us later if they pull off a surprise win.

Getafe vs Real Madrid: welcome

Hello and thank you for joining me as we begin our build up to another live game in LaLiga Santander.

It's a short trip south of the city for Zinedine Zidane and his men to the city of Getafe, with the focus of Los Blancos being to come back with all three points to stay on the coattails of capital rivals Atlético.

Stay with me and I'll bring you all the latest news related to tonight's opponents, before kicking off with our live commentary.