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Karim Benzema was unusually calm during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat by Getafe in La Liga on Sunday (Photo: AFP / JAVIER SORIANO)
MADRID: Real Madrid’s 15-game streak went on without a loss Sunday (January 2nd) ended when they suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat in La Liga in Getafe’s relegation battle.
Madrid’s surprising defeat gives hope to ailing pursuers in Spain after Eder Militao made an early mistake Enes Unal scored the winning goal at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Sevilla, Madrid’s closest challenger, will be five points behind the leaders with one game in hand if they win in Cadiz on Sunday. Getafe remains 16th after only their fourth league win of the season.
Madrid have taken command of the Spanish title race after excellent form that included 10 wins in a row and 15 games without loss. The last defeat came on October 3rd at Espanyol.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s side had failed miserably in their first appearance in 2022 and, apart from a short break in the first half, had a really hard time at Getafe Goal.
Eden Hazard came on at halftime but was again unable to bring his team to life, while Karim Benzema remained unusually calm on the offensive. Madrid certainly missed the penetration of Vinicius Junior, who was absent after a positive COVID-19 test.
Ancelotti’s mood was summed up in the second half when the deflated Italian slumped on the bench and dropped his head, after a Toni Kroos free kick went harmlessly out of the game.
Getafe lost eight games in a row at the start of the season but came back on an upswing under Quique Sanchez Flores after unbeaten five games, including two Victories against Cadiz and Osasuna.
Unal put them in the lead in the ninth minute after the otherwise reliable Militao was caught napping.
The Brazilian cleared on the edge of his own penalty area but instead took an extra touch and got into a scramble with Unal, who stole the ball and overtook Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid dominated for 20 minutes, with Luka Modric gaining influence, but a tough one Closer Getafe kept his lead for the remainder of the first half and was relatively comfortable in the second.
Hazard and Marcelo were both substituted at half time, but neither had much influence as Hazard failed to get a single shot on goal. Benzema saw a shot blocked, Casemiro saw a half volley and Mariano Diaz headed over, but Getafe deserved the win.
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