Real Madrid Stumble In LaLiga Title Race

A reshuffled Real Madrid dropped two key points in the LaLiga Santander title race after being held to a 0-0 draw with Getafe on Sunday night at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Los Blancos are now three points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid following the stalemate down in the southern part of Madrid.

With his squad hammered by countless injuries, suspensions and absences due to COVID-19, and with rest needed for Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos, Zinedine Zidane rotated his starting XI, including youngster Victor Chust at centre-back, Luka Modric as the lone true midfielder and an attacking quartet of Isco, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Vinicius in support of lone striker Mariano.

Chust immediately answered the call and reacted quickly to block Jaime Mata from opening the scoring, while his teammates had their hands raised asking for an offside that wasn’t.

Getafe’s early pressure continued and Thibaut Courtois was alert to slap away Mathias Olivera’s chance from a few yards out, followed by a chance for Mauro Arambarri that bounced wide.

The chances kept pouring forth from Getafe and this time it took the post to deny the first goal of the net, with Mata’s header glancing off Courtois’ goal and out.

Real Madrid had their fair share of looks as well, including a Mariano goal that was called back by VAR and a later chance for Mariano off a Marcelo cross that Getafe defender David Timor had to clear off the goal line.

A half full of scoring opportunities but no finishing product would then end appropriately with Getafe’s Carles Alena pumping a shot over the crossbar.

Enes Unal of Getafe had the first chance of the second half with Getafe on a three vs two break, but his right-footed shot was parried to safety by Courtois.

Midway through the half, Zidane made his first two changes with Benzema on for Mariano and debutant Antonio Blanco for Rodrygo.

Shortly after coming on as a substitute, Angel Rodriguez was presented with the next chance, only for the shot to sail wide. That was followed by the third change from Zidane, with Sergio Arribas replacing Asensio.

Courtois was called into duty again when a deflected Nemanja Maksimovic shot was spinning like a topspin lob, with the big Belgian tipping it over the crossbar.

Real Madrid were the stronger team in the final minutes in hopes of sneaking out with a late winner and the full three points, but the Getafe defence held them in check to earn a share of the spoils.

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