Reigning champions Atletico Madrid capitalised on pacesetters Barcelona’s El Clasico defeat by moving within two points of them with a 0-1 victory against Getafe. Simeone’s men weren't really caused problems until the final stages of the ‘mini’-Madrid derby. Croatian frontman Mario Mandzukic stabbed home Arda Turan’s cross to send Atleti into a 40th minute lead before half-time, a lead that had been a long time coming and you could feel the relief from the away end inside the Coliseum Alfonso Perez after the visitors squandered an array of first-half opportunities.
It got better for Atletico, as the referee dismissed Alexis for striking goal scorer Mandzukic in the face in the 51st minute, but they failed to punish the host’s numerical disadvantage. Getafe never really lied down, and continued to attack in search of an equaliser, Miguel Moya the man who signed for Atleti from Getafe in the summer prevented his former club from restoring parity. Baba Diawara came closest to an equaliser in Getafe’s final efforts for an equaliser, his long range effort swerving just past the post. However Atletico hung on to take all three points back with them across Madrid.
Line-ups:
Getafe: Guaita, Valera (Naldo), Alexis, Velazquez, Escudero, Rodriguez, Lacen, Yoda, Sammier (Diawara), Hinestroza (Sarabia), Lafita.
Atletico Madrid: Moya, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Siqueira, Mario Suarez, Koke, Raul Garcia, Turan, Griezmann (Cerci), Mandzukic (Saul).
Match stats:
Getafe | Atletico Madrid
38% Possession 62%
11 Shots 12
4 On Target 7
3 Yellow Cards 3
1 Red Cards 1.