Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid: Arda Güler keeps the 'merengues' alive in LaLiga

Real Madrid, almost by inertia, insists on fighting for LaLiga EA Sports, at least until the Clásico against FC Barcelona on May 11. On Wednesday, the 'merengues' moved back to 4 points behind the Azulgrana team thanks to another narrow victory against Getafe (0-1). A great goal from Arda Güler and the lack of aim of the 'azulones' avoided another setback for the 'blancos'.

Carlo Ancelotti's team, forced to win after Barça's victory against Mallorca (1-0), took to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez pitch with a majority of starters. The main novelties in the 'merengue' XI were in attack, with Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler and Endrick accompanying Vinicius.

The match, as Getafe matches usually are, was very physical from the start. Endrick and Domingos Duarte had several clashes in a first half that had 10 fouls (7 from the locals) and multiple interruptions. The first chance was for Borja Mayoral, with a header, after a good cross from Juan Iglesias, but the '9' shot wide of the net.

A great goal from Arda Güler was the difference before the break

Arda Güler scored the partial 0-1 against Getafe

Madrid responded with a shot from Fran García, after a run from Lucas Vázquez, which tested David Soria's reflexes. Three minutes later, in the 21st minute, the 'blancos' put together another good attack where Brahim again demanded the Azulón goalkeeper. Getafe wanted to clear, but the ball fell to Arda Güler on the edge of the area.

The Turk, with time and space, adjusted himself to his left to take a placed shot, impossible for Soria. It was Arda's second goal of the season and the first since matchday 17, against Girona.

Afterwards, in the 32nd minute, Madrid came close to the second after a good one-two between Vini and Endrick, where the latter finished in front of Soria's exit. Djené appeared to clear on the goal line, denying the 18-year-old striker the goal. 

Before the break, Getafe reacted with a couple of very dangerous crosses from Alderete. After halftime, Ancelotti put Camavinga in place of David Alaba, a change that generated alarm in the 'Casa Blanca' due to a possible injury of the Austrian.

Getafe took control of the match in the second half

The locals, for their part, made two changes in the 50th minute with the entry of Iglesias and Berrocal for Álvaro and Coba. The changes suited Getafe well, who managed to corner their rival in the first quarter of an hour of the second half through high pressure.

Two errors in the exit of Tchouaméni and Fran García generated clear opportunities for Mayoral and Álvaro, but both were imprecise in the definition. 'Carletto' had no choice but to put Jude Bellingham in for Endrick to try to regain control of a match that remained totally open.

However, Getafe continued to have the best opportunities to equalize the match. In the 72nd minute, Borja Mayoral found Mauro Arambarri alone, but the midfielder, inexplicably, shot wide despite having the goal in front of him and total freedom to finish.

Madrid prolongs its agony in La Liga with another 1-0

Ancelotti again moved the bench with the entry of Rodrygo and Dani Ceballos for Vinicius and Güler. The '7', again, was erratic and left booed by the local fans. In fact, the main Sánchez Martínez stopped the game for a couple of minutes in the 76th minute due to possible offensive chants against the Brazilian and Raúl Asencio himself.

In the final minutes, very little really happened in a match that Madrid seemed to take for granted in the first half, despite having a minimal advantage. For the second consecutive matchday, the 'blancos' took the 3 points thanks to a discreet 1-0 victory.

Towards the end, the 'blancos' had to play with ten due to Camavinga's muscular injury. The team suffered a lot in added time, but Getafe was never fine inside the rival area to punish a broken defense. Courtois, in fact, had two key interventions in the last minutes.

With this, Madrid is back to 4 points behind Barça, with 5 La Liga matchdays to play. The 'merengue' team, at times, wanders around the field, without ideas or strength to hurt their rivals. 

Now, Ancelotti's team will play the season in two Clásicos against a clearly superior Barcelona. First, in the Copa del Rey final this Saturday at La Cartuja. Afterwards, on matchday 35, LaLiga will be defined in Montjuïc, on May 11.

Match sheet of the match: Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid 

• Getafe, 0: Soria; Djené (Bekhoucha, min. 83), Berrocal (Coba, min. 50), Domingos Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias (Álvaro, min. 50); Terrats (Peter González, min. 69), Luis Milla, Arambarri, Juan Bernat; Mayoral (Juanmi, min. 83)
• Real Madrid, 1: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Asencio, Alaba (Camavinga, min. 46), F. García; Tchouaméni, Arda Güler (Ceballos, min 76), Valverde; Brahim, Vinicius Jr. (Rodrygo, min 73) and Endrick (Bellingham, min. 64).
• Goals: 0-1, Arda Güler (min. 21).
• Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez. He cautioned Aurélien Tchouaméni for Real Madrid. For Getafe, Luis Milla, Álvaro Rodríguez and Peter González were cautioned.
• Stadium: Coliseum Alfonso Pérez de Madrid.
• Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024-25