Getafe 0 Real Madrid 0: Los Blancos below par as local rivals play out bore La Liga draw

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Ben Hayward25 April 2019

Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw in an intense but ultimately disappointing game away to city rivals Getafe on Thursday night.

Coach Zinedine Zidane made changes to his side, leaving Luka Modric and Toni Kroos out and handing starts to Brahim Diaz and Fede Valverde.

But the best chances fell to in-form forward Karim Benzema in the first half, the Frenchman dragging an early effort wide inside two minutes and coming close again as he saw a shot saved by David Soria later on in the opening period.

Brahim showed some super skills, although he lacked the final finish and hit one shot well wide from a tight angle, while Isco saw an effort blocked from close range following a clever one-two between Dani Carvajal and the former Manchester City midfielder.

Getafe, needing a point to stay in fourth place in their search for Champions League qualification for the first time in their history after Sevilla thrashed Rayo Vallecano 5-0 earlier in the evening, grew in confidence as the night wore on.

Jose Bordalas’ side play with impressive intensity and caused Madrid plenty of problems in the second half, forcing Keylor Navas into a spectacular double save after 72 minutes, when the Costa Rican stretched to keep out a low shot by Jorge Molina and then a second from Jaime Mata.

Getafe continued to threaten on the break and the home side won a series of free-kicks and corners in the closing stages, while Samu Saiz saw a late effort saved by Navas following a quick counter right at the end.

Ultimately, a draw was probably fair though and it meant Madrid failed to score for the first time since Zidane’s return last month.

Los Blancos remain third, 10 points clear of Getafe in fourth and Sevilla in fifth, with four fixtures remaining.

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25 April 2019

6 mins: Another Uruguayan midfielder, Fede Valverde, side-foots over the bar from outside the box at the other end...

25 April 2019

4 mins: Mathias Olivera tries a shot from distance, but the Getafe midfielder's effort is low and easy for Keylor Navas...

25 April 2019

3 mins: Getafe settling now and pushing Real Madrid back into their own half...

25 April 2019

2 mins: Isco puts Karim Benzema through with just over a minute on the clock and the French forward drags a shot just wide. A super early chance to Real Madrid!

25 April 2019

The match is under way at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez!

25 April 2019

Zinedine Zidane makes six changes to the Real Madrid side who beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 over the weekend courtesy of Karim Benzema's hat-trick.

Jesus Vallejo, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio drop to the bench as Nacho, Sergio Reguilon, Isco, Federico Valverde, Brahim Diaz and a certain Gareth Bale all start.

Keylor Navas is given the nod ahead of Thibaut Courtois once more...

25 April 2019

Getafe XI: David Soria, Damian, Bruno, Miquel, Cabrera, Hugo Duro, Arambarri, Maksimovic, Olivera, Molina, Mata

Subs: Chichizola, Portillo, Angel, Gaku, Samu Saiz, Cristoforo, Flamini

25 April 2019

Real Madrid XI: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Reguilon, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Brahim, Bale, Benzema

Subs: Courtois, Vallejo, Kroos, Modric, Marcelo, Vazquez, Asensio

25 April 2019

Official team news is on the way. Stay tuned...

25 April 2019

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport's live coverage from La Liga as Getafe face neighbours Real Madrid.

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