With Atlético now out of the Copa del Rey and bereft of any European action, their entire season hinges on a top-four finish – something the club last failed to attain back in 2012. However, there was very little urgency on display from the hosts, who struggled to break down Getafe’s rearguard in a timid first half display. Antoine Griezmann had their best opportunity, turning from Rodrigo De Paul’s pass before firing his effort at David Soria.
As for a Getafe side looking to escape the relegation dogfight, they were even more ponderous in the final-third - though this came as no surprise, given that they had netted just twice before the interval on their travels before this trip across the capital. Embodying perhaps their most realistic means of taking a shock lead, Enes Ünal came closest to threatening Jan Oblak from range, but he failed to hit the target.
After an unconvincing restart from Diego Simeone’s men, a defensive lapse from the visitors allowed Atléti to take the lead in bizarre circumstances. Ángel Correa rifled home on the rebound after Thomas Lemar’s effort could only be parried by Soria, but the strike was initially ruled out for offside. Correa was then substituted while a VAR review took place, and when the decision was overturned, the benched Argentinian was mobbed by his teammates on the sidelines.
Seemingly cruising to victory, the hosts shot themselves in the foot by conceding a needless penalty in the dying embers. Saúl Ñíguez’s outstretched arm blocked Borja Mayoral’s header, leaving much-maligned referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz with little option but to point to the spot. Ünal stepped up and smashed home from 12 yards, as Getafe snatched a point to leave them just two points adrift of safety.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Omar Alderete (Getafe)
