Real Madrid’s coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, remains optimistic about the LaLiga title race despite his team’s unexpected 1-0 defeat at home to Getafe, which now puts them four points behind leaders Barcelona.
Martín Satriano netted a stunning goal in the first half, while Real Madrid squandered several scoring opportunities, marking Getafe’s first victory at the Bernabéu in 18 years.
The match concluded with a tense atmosphere as players clashed on the touchline, and Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono was shown a red card for dissent in stoppage time.
When asked if the loss marks the end of Madrid’s title ambitions, Arbeloa firmly replied, “No, of course not. There are 36 points remaining, and we must fight for them. Nobody at this club will give up; this is Real Madrid. A four-point gap is something we can overcome.”
This defeat is Madrid’s second consecutive loss in LaLiga, following a 2-1 setback against Osasuna on February 21.
The squad is currently missing star striker Kylian Mbappé due to a knee sprain and midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has a thigh injury.
“We could have performed better in this game,” Arbeloa acknowledged. “We had clearer chances than them, but football is not always about what you deserve. Getafe executed their game plan well, and nothing unexpected occurred.”
Next, Madrid will face Celta Vigo on Friday, followed by a Champions League round of 16 match against Manchester City next week.
“We have talented players and a solid squad, and there are those who will recover and contribute greatly,” Arbeloa stated. “We recognize we can improve our performance on the field, and I understand the criticism following a loss like this.”
“We created multiple scoring opportunities. While we can certainly enhance our play, I cannot fault the players’ effort. It’s my responsibility to elevate the team’s performance.”
A report from the referee indicated that Mastantuono was dismissed for uttering “what a disgrace” twice towards the official.
“I am not fully aware of the situation,” Arbeloa commented. “However, he must have said something inappropriate, and such behavior is unacceptable.”
Getafe’s manager, José Bordalás, opted not to comment on whether VAR should have intervened regarding a situation where Antonio Rüdiger appeared to make contact with Diego Rico‘s face.
“Everyone saw it,” Bordalás mentioned, “but I won’t comment further. What we need to focus on is celebrating the victory.”