Lorraine Williamson
It was a dramatic weekend for Spanish football. On Saturday, Barcelona’s last-gasp win over Girona had set the bar high — and less than 24 hours later, Real Madrid’s tense 1-0 victory over Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez ensured that the top two in La Liga remain locked in a fierce early-season duel.
The Madrid derby may have lacked the glamour of Barça v Girona, but it delivered every bit as much tension, controversy, and raw emotion — both on and off the pitch.
Just as Barcelona’s Pedri had done the previous afternoon, Kylian Mbappé, the standout player of Sunday’s clash, halted play seconds after kick-off. The brief stoppage was a player protest against the decision to allow domestic La Liga matches to be played abroad. This move has caused uproar among clubs and supporters.
Once play resumed, the tempo exploded into life. Within ten minutes, Mbappé burst through for the first real chance of the match. However, his low drive went straight at David Soria in the Getafe goal. The Frenchman remained lively throughout the half, yet his finishing deserted him time and again.
First half: Madrid on top, but no reward
Up to the 20-minute mark, Madrid were in complete control — Bellingham and Rodrygo combining well behind Mbappé, who was relentlessly involved but unable to convert.
Getafe offered their first warning when Mauro Arambarri capitalised on a poor clearance, but his shot drifted wide. The home crowd came alive as the minutes ticked on. At the 40-minute mark, Sancris went agonisingly close with a curling effort that missed the far post by inches.
Despite waves of white-shirted attacks, the half-time whistle sounded with the score still 0-0, Mbappé, Bellingham and Rodrygo all frustrated by Soria’s superb keeping and Madrid’s lack of precision.
Second half: a shift in momentum
Getafe came out energised after the break, pressing higher and unsettling Madrid’s rhythm. For a short spell, they looked the more confident side. On the hour, Madrid squandered a golden opportunity from a corner — a miss that could have proven costly.
Sensing the danger, Xabi Alonso’s side stepped up their urgency. Mbappé saw a free kick curl narrowly wide, while Vinícius Júnior began to draw fouls as Getafe’s defenders tired.
Then came the chaos. Femenía, already on a yellow card, committed another reckless challenge and was quickly substituted for Allan Nyom to avoid a dismissal. But the change backfired spectacularly — just seconds on the pitch, Nyom’s first act was a clumsy off-the-ball foul on Vinícius, leaving the referee little choice but to show him a red card.
The breakthrough and collapse
Down to ten men with fifteen minutes left, Getafe faced a mountain. Madrid’s persistence finally paid off when Mbappé, after countless misses, unleashed a rocket into the top corner to make it 0-1.
Moments later, the game descended further into turmoil. Vinícius, again targeted off the ball, was brought down by Sancris, who had already been booked. A second yellow followed, reducing Getafe to nine men with just six minutes of normal time remaining.
The closing stages became a stop-start affair filled with substitutions, injury breaks and rising tempers. Seven minutes of stoppage time were added — and nearly produced an equaliser. In the dying seconds, Kamara’s powerful left-foot strike looked destined for the net, but Thibaut Courtois made a sensational save to preserve the lead.
When the final whistle blew, relief and frustration mixed across the stadium.
Table impact: Madrid stay ahead
The result keeps Real Madrid two points clear at the top of La Liga, sitting on 24 points, while Barcelona trail with 22 after their own dramatic win over Girona.
Both clubs look evenly matched early in the campaign — Madrid showing resilience and depth, Barcelona their trademark flair and late-game determination. With form, fatigue, and European fixtures looming, the battle between Spain’s two giants already feels destined to go the distance.
La Liga title race is underway
A weekend that began with Barcelona’s stoppage-time triumph ended with Real Madrid’s gritty away win — two sides, two statements, and one clear message: this season’s La Liga race is shaping up to be one for the ages.
Final Score:
Getafe 0 – 1 Real Madrid
(Mbappé 77’)
Barcelona v Girona