Another loss for Real Madrid

Ronaldo looks deflated after the loss against Getafe

MADRID, Spain  ●   La Liga champions Real Madrid crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at derby rivals Getafe on Sunday to leave them five points behind fierce rivals Barcelona after only two games of the new season.

Madrid’s sluggish start has seen them held 1-1 at home to Valencia in the league followed by a 3-2 defeat by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup first leg, before this latest slip-up.

Coach Jose Mourinho afterwards was far from happy with the performance of his team.

“It was an unacceptable game, in this match for me it is not a frustrating defeat. We totally deserved to lose,” Mourinho said to reporters after the game.

“There are things that a coach cannot discuss with the press. I haven’t talked to the players. They have no feedback on what I think and what I have analysed. I have to talk to them.

“The only conclusion that I want them to get is that this was a defeat for Real Madrid and more than a well-deserved win for Getafe.”

Gonzalo Higuain put Madrid ahead after 26 minutes but their weakness in the air returned to haunt them as Juan Valera headed Getafe level after 52 minutes.

Madrid pressed forward looking for the winner but instead they were caught out at the back, with Abdelaziz Barrada scoring a 74th-minute winner.

Jose Mourinho’s side will now look to get their season back on track in the second leg of the Super Cup on Thursday against Barca, who beat Real Sociedad 2-1 earlier on Sunday.

After a scrappy opening at Getafe, Madrid began to assert themselves and Mesut Ozil was guilty of a glaring miss in the 15th minute when he hit the bar after a neat combination with Cristiano Ronaldo left the goal unguarded.

Higuain had been picked ahead of Karim Benzema and he gave the visitors the lead from Angel di Maria’s pass, using his strength to round the goalkeeper and slot the ball home.

After the break, Getafe came out looking to attack and got their reward thanks to poor marking from Madrid, with the unmarked Valera heading in from a free-kick.

The visitors pushed forward looking to regain the lead but instead Getafe struck again, with Adrian Colunga going past Raul Albiol and setting up Barrada to score.