Atlético Madrid edged past Getafe with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Sunday, keeping themselves firmly in the LaLiga title chase.
Diego Simeone’s side, sitting fourth in the table, moved to within three points of joint leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid thanks to a decisive late moment - a Domingos Duarte own goal in the 82nd minute that finally broke the deadlock on a cold night at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Real Madrid, led by Xabi Alonso, can restore their advantage at the top when they face Elche later in the day, while Atlético remain just one point behind third-placed Villarreal after this gritty derby.
The evening got off to a frustrating start for Atlético, who lost Marcos Llorente to injury early on - arguably the most notable event of a cagey first half.
Getafe, positioned seventh and known for their stubborn home form, succeeded in slowing the game and limiting clear chances for their Madrid rivals.
Atlético captain Koke marked a historic milestone with his 700th appearance for the club, though it was far from a match to remember.
With Jan Oblak sidelined, Juan Musso took his place in goal for Atlético but was barely tested across the 90 minutes.
Getafe goalkeeper David Soria, meanwhile, was called into action to deny Nico González in the first half.
There were brief warning signs for Atlético when Mauro Arambarri saw a shot blocked just after the hour mark as the hosts tried to push forward.
Simeone changed his attacking approach in the second half, replacing the quiet Julián Álvarez with Alexander Sørloth in search of more presence up front.
The visitors began to ramp up the intensity. Soria denied Giacomo Raspadori, but the Italian forward would play a key role in the deciding moment.
His driven ball back across goal caused chaos in the six-yard box, leading Duarte to inadvertently turn it into his own net under pressure from Antoine Griezmann.
Getafe nearly found a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time when Arambarri thundered a shot off the crossbar, but Atlético held firm.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Raspadori said:
“The coach told me to make the most of my chance. I had a bit of luck with the own goal, but I’m very happy. These games are tough, and winning them is important.”
While far from a showcase performance, the result delivers exactly what Atlético needed—three vital points to stay within striking distance of the summit as the season intensifies.
