Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Getafe on Wednesday night, closing the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to just four points.
The solitary goal came in the 21st minute courtesy of Arda Güler, who rifled a shot past Getafe goalkeeper David Soria after a swift Real Madrid counter-attack.
This marked Güler’s second league goal of the season.
The win comes at a crucial time for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who were under pressure to deliver after their recent Champions League exit.
Ancelotti made six changes to his starting lineup, resting key players like Jude Bellingham ahead of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
Real Madrid had opportunities to extend their lead, with Endrick denied a debut league goal by a goal-line clearance from Djene Dakonam.
However, they were far from their fluent best and were fortunate that Getafe failed to capitalize on several chances after the break.
Substitute Alvaro Rodriguez went close with a header, and Mauro Arambarri dragged a shot wide from a good position.
A concerning moment occurred in the 77th minute when the referee briefly halted the match to speak with both managers and a police officer near the touchline after Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni approached him.
Subsequently, a message urging fans to refrain from using racist language was broadcast over the stadium’s public announcement system.
Getafe pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages, and Thibaut Courtois produced a stunning save in the sixth minute of added time to deny Rodriguez a late leveller.
Despite the close call, Real Madrid held on for the win. The victory sees them trail Barcelona by four points with five league games remaining, including a direct encounter between the two rivals scheduled for May 11th.
Getafe, meanwhile, remain in 12th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone but also seven points adrift of the European qualification spots.
