La Liga: League leaders Real Madrid were defeated 1-0 in their first match of 2022 against 16th place Getafe

La Liga: Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid

Another miscue at the back minutes later almost allowed Nemanja Maksimović to double the lead for the hosts. As time went on Real Madrid managed to find their footing with long-range efforts from Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić coming inches away from an equaliser but nothing would drop. Getafe, in comparison, remained on top of their game and stifled any threats.

La Liga: League leaders Real Madrid were defeated 1-0 in their first match of 2022 against 16th place Getafe

With a quarter-of-an-hour gone, our team had a good chance to level the game. Modrić’s fierce long-range strike was kept out by Soria at full stretch. Two minutes later, a carefully crafted team move found the Croatian free in the area, but his left-footed effort came crashing back off the bar. Real Madrid were beginning to look more likely now, and another fine chance presented itself with 20 minutes on the clock.

From that point on, the hosts tightened up at the back and defended their advantage astutely until the break. After the re-start, Ancelotti brought on Hazard and Marcelo for Asensio and Mendy. Getafe continued to defend their lead comfortably, making it difficult for the Whites to carve out any chances. On 57’, Modrić tried his luck from the edge of the area, but Soria was untroubled and pulled off a comfortable save.

The visitors continued to attack and two minutes later they almost found an equaliser. Marcelo, Hazard and Benzema linked up neatly and the Frenchman’s effort was headed out for a corner by Cuenca. Madrid continued to pile on the pressure on the hosts’ defence. On 70’, Marcelo thought he should have had a penalty after being pulled back by Damián and six minutes later Cuenca cleared a cross which fell kindly to Casemiro on the edge of the box but the Brazilian’s effort was met by a superb Soria save.

⚽️ We fought until the end.#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/qKk5Fb1Lx3

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 2, 2022

In stoppage time, Modrić fired in a free-kick which was headed goalwards by Isco, but the Getafe shot-stopper was once again there to deny the visitors and the hosts hung on to take the three points. Marcelo, Eden Hazard, Mariano Diaz and others came off the bench in the second half to try and ramp up the pressure after a woeful first-half performance.