Monday night at the Santiago Bernabeu was set for drama as Real Madrid hosted Getafe in the closing fixture of LaLiga’s Matchday 26. With the league’s top spot within tantalizing reach, Los Blancos entered the contest trailing Barcelona by four points after 25 matches, their record standing at 19 wins, three draws, and three losses. The stakes were clear: win, and the gap narrows to just one point. Lose, and the title chase takes a major hit.
Getafe, meanwhile, arrived in the Spanish capital sitting 14th in the table with 29 points from 25 games (8-5-12). Historically, Jose Bordalas’s side had never managed to defeat Real Madrid in 16 previous league encounters, but with the hosts reeling from a recent 2-1 loss to Osasuna and a growing injury list, the visitors sensed a rare opportunity.
Fans across the globe tuned in, with ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ broadcasting in the United States, DAZN La Liga in Spain, and Premier Sports in the UK. For those seeking free streams, DirecTV and Fubo TV offered trial options, while Sling tempted new users with a discounted first month.
Real’s lineup reflected both ambition and necessity. Thibaut Courtois guarded the net, shielded by a backline of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Carreras. The midfield quartet featured Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, and debutant Thiago Pitarch, a player familiar to coach Alvaro Arbeloa from their days with Real Madrid Castilla. Up front, Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia led the attack, with Rodrygo and Dean Huijsen available on the bench after returning from knocks.
The absentees were notable. Kylian Mbappe, the season’s top scorer with 38 goals in 33 appearances, remained sidelined with an external ligament injury to his left knee. England’s Jude Bellingham (hamstring), Eder Militao (hamstring), Dani Ceballos (calf), Dean Huijsen (calf), and Raul Asensio (neck) were also unavailable, while Eduardo Camavinga missed out with a toothache. Arbeloa’s approach was pragmatic: “We will take it day by day and monitor the progress. He will see how he feels, how he recovers, and how the evolution goes. At this moment, it is better not to set deadlines because it’s essentially discomfort, and we need to proceed day by day to see how he feels, and based on that, we will make decisions. We want him to return at 100%, and when that happens, he will come back.”
Getafe’s starting eleven featured David Soria in goal, with defenders Iglesias, Duarte, Romero, Boselli, and Rico. The midfield included Satriano, Arambarri, Milla, and Kiko, while Juanmi Vazquez led the line. Mauro Arambarri, the team’s top scorer with five goals, was expected to shoulder much of the offensive burden. The visitors were without Davinchi (knee), Abu Kamara (muscle), and the suspended Djene Dakonam.
Despite Real Madrid’s attacking firepower and Vinicius Junior’s resurgent form—seven goals and two assists in 11 matches in 2026, including a streak of five consecutive games with a goal—the match did not unfold as many expected. The first half was tense, with Getafe’s defense frustrating the home side. Vinicius had a golden chance to open the scoring, bursting through on goal only to be denied by Soria’s quick reflexes.
The breakthrough, however, came at the other end. Martin Satriano stunned the Bernabeu faithful with a breathtaking volley before halftime, sending the ball soaring past Courtois into the top corner. The goal not only silenced the crowd but also put Real Madrid in the unfamiliar position of chasing the game at home. Remarkably, Los Blancos had only managed to avoid defeat once this LaLiga season after conceding first—a worrying statistic for Arbeloa’s men.
After the interval, Arbeloa wasted no time making changes. Within the first ten minutes of the second half, he introduced three substitutes, including Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo, while Alexander-Arnold made way. The tactical shift injected urgency into Real’s play, with the hosts peppering Getafe’s box with crosses and set pieces. Rudiger went close with a near-post header, Rodrygo nodded an effort across goal, and Carvajal just missed turning the ball in at the far post. Yet, Soria and his backline held firm, repelling wave after wave of Madrid attacks.
As the clock ticked down, frustration mounted. In stoppage time, tempers boiled over as Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono received a red card for abusive language directed at referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz. Moments later, Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also dismissed for time wasting, ensuring both sides finished with ten men.
The final whistle confirmed a shock 1-0 victory for Getafe, marking their first-ever win over Real Madrid in LaLiga. Satriano’s strike proved decisive, and the visitors’ defensive resilience was rewarded with all three points. For Real Madrid, it was a second straight league defeat and a missed opportunity to close the gap on Barcelona, who now sit four points clear at the summit after 26 games each.
The loss also cast a spotlight on Real’s ongoing injury woes and the challenge facing Arbeloa. With four defeats in his 12 games in charge—many coming without Mbappe and Bellingham—pressure is mounting as the season enters its decisive phase. Real’s next test comes quickly: a Friday night clash against Celta Vigo, where the need for a response is urgent.
For Getafe and Bordalas, the result is a historic milestone and a welcome boost in their battle to avoid relegation. Their stubborn, organized defense and Satriano’s moment of magic will be remembered as one of the season’s biggest upsets.
As the dust settles, the LaLiga title race remains wide open, but for Real Madrid, the margin for error has shrunk dramatically. With key fixtures ahead and star players still on the mend, the coming weeks promise even more twists in this gripping campaign.