Getafe ended Real Madrid’s 15-game unbeaten streak after beating the Spanish league leaders 1-0 in the capital derby on Sunday.
Striker Enes Unal took the host's winner in the ninth minute after he stole the ball from Madrid defender Éder Militão near the goal and beat Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid went no closer to an equalizer than Luka Modric’s strike that hit the crossbar in the 17th. Eden Hazard and Marcelo came on as half-time substitutions but could not spark a comeback.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, foreground, views for the ball during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Madrid’s previous loss came on Oct. 3 when it fell 2-1 at Espanyol. Since then, it had won 13 and drawn two across all competitions.
Second-place Sevilla visits Cádiz on Monday nine points behind Madrid.
Courtois started the match after it was determined that his positive COVID-19 result from earlier this week was erroneous. Madrid was without in-form winger Vinícius Júnior after he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Getafe players celebrate after scoring the opening goal during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
The match was the first to be played since Spanish health authorities put back in place caps on attendance after the steep rise in COVID-19 infections. All games are limited to 75% of capacity, with some regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country applying even lower limits.
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Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois throws the ball during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)