Arambarri double as Getafe fight back to shock Atlético
Getafe vs Atlético Madrid
Getafe's Mauro Arambarri scored a last-gasp quickfire double to upset 10-man Atlético Madrid 2-1 on Sunday, a dramatic turn of events that saw Diego Simeone’s side squander a golden opportunity to move to the top of the LaLiga table in a match that encapsulated the unpredictable nature of this fiercely contested season. The game, played at Getafe’s compact Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, had appeared to be heading toward a hard-fought Atlético victory after substitute Alexander Sorloth converted a penalty in the 75th minute, a decision that came after a lengthy VAR review spotted a handball by Getafe’s Omar Alderete, much to the fury of the home crowd who felt aggrieved by the call. However, the tide turned decisively in the closing stages when Atlético’s Ángel Correa was shown a straight red card in the 88th minute for a reckless studs-up tackle on Getafe captain Djené, a moment of ill-discipline that shifted the momentum and left Simeone’s men vulnerable. Within seconds of the dismissal, Arambarri pounced on a rebound from close range, stroking the ball past goalkeeper Jan Oblak to level the score and ignite the home fans’ hopes of an improbable comeback. Then, two minutes into stoppage time, the Uruguayan midfielder struck again, deflecting a shot from teammate Diego Rico past Oblak to secure a stunning 2-1 victory for Getafe, a result that sent shockwaves through the LaLiga standings and underscored the fragility of Atlético’s title challenge. The late collapse was a bitter pill for Simeone’s side to swallow, as they had controlled much of the match and seemed poised to capitalize on Barcelona’s postponed fixture to leapfrog them into first place, only to see their aspirations unravel in a matter of minutes due to a combination of poor decision-making and Getafe’s relentless late pressure.
With a game in hand, Barcelona lead the LaLiga table with 57 points, maintaining a slender one-point advantage over Atlético Madrid, who remain stuck on 56, while third-placed Real Madrid, three points back on 54, were set to host Rayo Vallecano later on Sunday in a match that could further tighten the race at the top. The standings reflect the extraordinary competitiveness of this season’s title chase, with Spain’s three biggest clubs separated by the narrowest of margins as they vie for domestic supremacy. Barcelona’s position at the summit is bolstered by their additional fixture, a match against Osasuna that was postponed on Saturday following the sudden and tragic death of their team doctor, an event that cast a somber shadow over the club and afforded them an opportunity to potentially extend their lead later in the campaign. Atlético’s defeat at Getafe was thus all the more costly, as a victory would have propelled them to the top of the table for the first time in weeks, putting pressure on both Barcelona and Real Madrid to respond. Instead, Simeone’s men were left to rue a missed chance, their frustration compounded by the knowledge that they now face a daunting week ahead, with a Champions League round-of-16 second leg against bitter rivals Real Madrid looming on Wednesday, followed by a crucial LaLiga showdown with Barcelona on the following Sunday. These fixtures represent a defining stretch for Atlético, testing their resilience and depth as they attempt to keep pace in both domestic and European competitions. For Getafe, meanwhile, the victory was a triumphant moment, a testament to their tenacity and ability to capitalize on their opponents’ misfortune, lifting them away from the relegation zone and boosting morale ahead of what remains a challenging season.
Despite the high stakes and the upcoming midweek clash with Real Madrid, Diego Simeone opted not to rest any key players for the trip to Getafe, a decision that reflected his determination to seize the chance to take pole position in LaLiga and assert Atlético’s credentials as genuine title contenders. Regular starters like Oblak, captain Koke, and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul all featured from the outset, with Simeone clearly prioritizing the immediate opportunity over squad rotation, a gamble that initially appeared justified as his team dominated possession and imposed their physical, disciplined style on the game. However, despite their control of the ball, Atlético were toothless in attack for much of the match, a recurring issue this season that has seen them struggle to convert their defensive solidity into consistent goal-scoring threat. The clash pitted LaLiga’s top two defenses against each other, and the result was a dour, attritional affair, with both sides canceling each other out in a contest defined by tight marking, limited space, and a paucity of clear-cut chances. Atlético managed no shots on target until the referee awarded them the penalty in the 75th minute, a call that sparked outrage among the Getafe players and supporters but handed Sorloth—brought off the bench to provide a focal point up top—the chance to break the deadlock. The Norwegian striker dispatched the spot-kick with a low, precise strike to the goalkeeper’s left, giving Atlético a lead they seemed likely to defend given their renowned resilience and organization. Yet, as Atlético midfielder Pablo Barrios later lamented to DAZN, “After we scored the goal we knew they were going to go up and even so we lost the game at the end,” a candid admission that highlighted the team’s failure to adapt once Correa’s red card tilted the balance in Getafe’s favor.
The turning point came in the 88th minute when Correa, already on a booking, lunged into a challenge on Djené with his studs raised, a reckless act that prompted referee Guillermo Cuadra to brandish a straight red card, reducing Atlético to 10 men and leaving them exposed at a critical juncture. Simeone, visibly incensed on the touchline, could only watch as his team’s hard-earned advantage slipped away in the ensuing chaos. Almost immediately, Getafe seized their numerical superiority, pushing forward with renewed vigor and finding Arambarri in the right place at the right time to convert a rebound after Oblak parried an initial effort. The equalizer shifted the momentum decisively, and as the clock ticked into stoppage time, Getafe struck again, with Arambarri deflecting Rico’s shot past a helpless Oblak to complete his brace and clinch a remarkable turnaround. Barrios, reflecting on the defeat, admitted, “We were doing OK but after [Correa’s] red card, with one less player, it got away from us ... Until we scored the goal we had the game under control. With the sending-off we didn’t know how to control the result.” His words captured the sense of disbelief and regret that permeated the Atlético camp, a team that prides itself on its ability to grind out results suddenly undone by a lapse in discipline and a failure to manage the game’s closing stages. For Simeone, the loss was a stark reminder of the fine margins that define top-level football, with Correa’s moment of madness proving the difference between a potentially season-defining win and a damaging setback.
In the broader context of Atlético’s season, this defeat at Getafe could prove to be a pivotal moment, one that tests their mettle as they navigate a grueling schedule and a three-pronged fight for LaLiga, the Champions League, and their pride against their fiercest rivals. The upcoming clash with Real Madrid in midweek carries enormous weight, not just for progression in Europe but for the psychological edge it could provide ahead of their subsequent meeting with Barcelona, a match that could shape the title race. Simeone will need to rally his troops quickly, addressing the defensive lapses and attacking bluntness that were exposed by Getafe’s late heroics while ensuring that Correa’s suspension does not derail their momentum further. For Getafe, Arambarri’s double strike was a reward for their perseverance, a pair of goals that showcased their ability to punish even the strongest opponents when given an opening. The victory will live long in the memory of their supporters, a rare scalp against one of Spain’s giants that reaffirms their reputation as a tough, uncompromising outfit capable of upsetting the odds. As the LaLiga season barrels toward its climax, this result serves as a reminder that no lead is safe and no outcome certain, with teams like Getafe ready to play spoiler and the top three locked in a battle that promises twists and turns until the very end.
