Atletico in a good position after patched-up Real held by Getafe
MADRID: A depleted Real Madrid delivered a major boost to Atletico Madrid’s title hopes by drawing 0-0 with Getafe in La Liga.
Atletico had thrashed Eibar 5-0 to reignite their own fading challenge and their victory proved even more valuable after Real were held to a goalless draw at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
It means Atletico extend their advantage at the top of the table from one to three points over Real while Barcelona, who now have a game in hand after winning the Spanish King’s Cup final on Saturday, are five points back.
Sevilla could yet join the race after they defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 but with six points separating them and Atletico, it remains more of an outside chance.
Real have enjoyed an incredible two weeks after beating Barcelona in the Clasico last weekend between knocking out Liverpool over two legs in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
But a crippling list of injuries and absentees means the squad are down to their bare bones and this was the game that finally caught up with them.
“I’m not worried,” said Zinedine Zidane. “There’s a lot going on, a lot of absentees, but it is what it is. We keep going.”
Zidane took only 13 senior outfield players to Getafe and still decided he had to rest Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema by starting them on the bench.
Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez are both injured while Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal were not deemed ready to return.
Nacho Fernandez and Casemiro were both suspended, with Raphael Varane and Fede Valverde unavailable due to Covid-19 protocol.
It meant Zidane named only three senior defenders, with the 21-yearold Victor Chust handed his first La Liga start at centreback and Alvaro Odriozola coming in at rightback.
Benzema came on but could not find a winner for Real, who will hope to have players back now for tomorrow’s trip to Cadiz.
The first leg of the Champions Leaue semi-final against Chelsea is also only nine days away.