MADRID: Real Madrid fell to a damaging 1-0 defeat by Getafe at home in La Liga on Monday, leaving them four points behind leaders Barcelona.
Alvaro Arbeloa's side, beaten by a superb volley from Martin Satriano, suffered a second consecutive loss in the Spanish top flight.
Madrid forward Franco Mastantuono was sent off in stoppage time for apparent dissent to make a bad night worse for Los Blancos.
With French superstar Kylian Mbappe in France to treat a knee sprain, Madrid lined up with Gonzalo Garcia in attack alongside Brazil star Vinicius Junior at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid were beaten at Osasuna last weekend, allowing rivals Barca to overtake them in the title race, and Hansi Flick's side stretched their lead by thrashing Villarreal on Saturday.
Vinicius, in excellent form in 2026 after an inconsistent start to the season, spurned a fine early chance.
The winger burst through on goal but David Soria saved well with his leg.
A brilliant roulette from Arda Guler nearly earned Madrid the breakthrough but Soria tipped over the Turkish forward's strike.
Getafe were upset by a painful collision between Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and Diego Rico, in which the German's knee knocked the Spaniard's head.
Uruguayan forward Satriano broke the deadlock with a delicious strike from the edge of the box after compatriot Mauro Arambarri nodded the ball into his path.
Soria, who had a fine game, saved from Vinicius in the second half and the Brazilian called for more support from Madrid's fans.
However the team were not giving them much to get excited about, although Rudiger came close to levelling with a header.
In stoppage time Mastantuono was dismissed, seemingly for something he said to the referee, before Getafe were also reduced to 10 men when Adrian Liso kicked the ball away and was shown a second yellow card. — AFP
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