Getafe and Atletico Madrid continued their respective La Liga campaigns with a clash in Madrid this evening.
Atletico took the lead late in the half through summer signing Mario Mandzukic.
Getafe's task became harder early in the second period when Alexis was given a red card and the home side were unable to find a leveller despite late pressure.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga commentary continues from the Spanish capital as Getafe welcome Atletico Madrid. The home side have made a decent start to the season, but face a tough test against the Spanish champions tonight. Right, before anything else, let me bring you up-to-speed with the team news from Madrid.
TEAMS
GETAFE: Guaita; Valera, Alexis, Velazquez, Escudero; Lacen, J.RodrÃguez; Sammir, Hinestroza, Yoda; Lafita
ATLETICO: Moya; Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Siqueira; Suarez, Koke, Garcia; Griezmann, Mandzukic, Turan
So there we have it. Karim Yoda, fresh from his two goals against Real Sociedad last time out, starts for the home side, while there are also spots in the team for Angel Lafita and Sammir. Emiliano Velazquez, who is on loan from Atletico, has also been cleared to play for the home side against his parent club.
Atletico, meanwhile, go with a front three of Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic and Arda Turan. Skipper Gabi is still not fully fit, meaning that Raul Garcia drops into central midfield alongside Mario Suarez and Koke. The back four and goalkeeper are as expected, with Diego Godin skippering the team once more.
As mentioned, Getafe are without a win in their last five league meetings with Atletico, failing to score in the process. Last season, Atletico were 2-0 winners in this stadium, while they won 7-0 at the Vicente Calderon earlier in the campaign. The season before, both league games were drawn 0-0.
Getafe have made a fairly encouraging start to the season, with 10 points from their eight matches leaving them in 12th position in the table. They have won three of their eight games, drawn once and lost four. Their recent form has been strong, meanwhile, with seven points from their last three league games.
In this stadium, Getafe are also without a win in their last five Madrid derbies – a run of form that will not please the supporters. Scoring goals has been a problem this season, meanwhile, with just six goals in their eight matches, two of which came last time out in a late, late 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Atletico, meanwhile, enter the match off the back of a thumping 5-0 win over Malmo in the Champions League. They lost 3-1 at Valencia before the international break, but responded with a 2-0 win over Espanyol in the league last time out. As it stands, the champions sit fifth in the table on 17 points.
Atletico's defence – which was the best in Spain last season – has already been breached seven times in the league this season. Meanwhile, they have scored 14 times. It was always going to be difficult to come to terms with the loss of key players in the summer, but the champions are starting to find some form.
PREDICTION! Have a look at what I had to say about this match here...
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Can Atletico take advantage of drop points for Barcelona? It is the away side that get the first 45 minutes of action underway in the capital.
Atletico have plenty of support inside the stadium this evening. Getafe? Not so much. They are one of the most poorly-supported teams in the league. As expected, the visitors have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with their back four all enjoying plenty of the ball early on.
Not too much to report in terms of attacking play in the opening minutes, with both teams just attempting to feel their way into the match. Yoda has been the brightest spark for the home side thus far.
Turan attempts to force the issue for the away side after finding space down the right, his cross is towards Mandzukic, but Guaita just manages to claim. Guaita is called into action moments later to punch clear a deep corner from Koke. The pressure is coming from the away side in the early exchanges here.
Slightly untidy period of the match in the last couple of minutes, with the referee forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. Sammir brings Koke to the ground, handing Atletico a free kick, but the set piece, which is taken by Koke, is worked short and eventually cleared by the home side. Suarez has a half-chance on the edge of the box, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post.
CLOSE! Getafe come close to taking the lead as Lacen meets a loose ball on the edge of the Atletico box, but his effort whistled wide of the post. Better from the home side.
Much better from Getafe in the last couple of minutes, with the home side getting closer to the champions in the middle of the park. Sammir continues to impress with his movement in the final third, but the attacker cannot find a pass into Yoda, who had threatened to move away from Miranda.
Velazquez, who is on loan from Atletico at Getafe, denies his parent club with a fine challenge on Garcia, before ushering away Siqueira inside the box. It is an open match with 14 minutes on the clock here.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes, with Atletico struggling to find that elusive pass in the final third. Turan looks for Juanfran on the right, but the defender cannot collect the pass. Getafe, meanwhile, remain a threat on the counter with Yoda and Sammir both lively.
Well, 19 minutes in and Getafe can be pretty pleased with their performance thus far. The away side have failed to create a clear chance of note thus far, with the best opportunity falling to Lacen, who fired wide from the edge of the box. You just get the feeling that the first goal could be crucial in this match.
Half-chance for Atletico as Koke finds some space outside the box, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post. That is what the visitors have been restricted to in the opening 21 minutes of action.
Another half-chance for the away side as Garcia stabs an effort from Griezmann towards the top corner, but Guaita was always comfortable in making the save. The home side are down the other end with Sammir moments later, with Yoda eventually delivering into the box, but Godin is on hand to head clear.
Not too much to speak of in the last couple of minutes, with Atletico dominating possession without really threatening to open the scoring. It is the away supporters making all the noise with 25 minutes played.
Half-chance for Atletico as Siqueira dances into the Getafe box before striking towards the bottom corner, but Guaita is on hand to make the save at his near post. It was good work from Juanfran and Mandzukic in the build-up, with the latter finding Siqueira at the far post. Still goalless in the capital.
Atletico keep the pressure on with two corners in quick succession - set pieces that bring plenty of holding inside the box. Both are cleared, however, with the home side strong in the air thus far.
Ten of Atletico's last 14 goals have come after half-time, which is not good news for Getafe. The visitors have just started to turn the screw in the latter stages of the half, with Getafe unable to break free. A goal for Atletico at this stage of proceedings would be a big blow to the hosts that is for certain.
Getafe threaten to create a chance as Yoda drives into the heart of the Atletico midfield before attempting to feed Sammir, but Siqueira is on hand to clear. Down the other end, Siqueira finds Garcia inside the box, but his effort is deflected high of the crossbar, before Guaita claims the resulting corner.
Griezmann is next to try his luck on goal, but his effort is straight into the arms of Guaita.
Possession football from Atletico in the latter stages of the half, but they are finding it difficult to break through this stern Getafe back-line. Little over eight minutes of the first period remaining in Madrid.
Still no bookings this evening despite a number of late challenges. Diego Simeone asks the question as Lacen dives into Koke, but the referee is not interested. Good pressure from the visitors as they force another corner late in the half, but Escudero is on hand to clear with a towering header.
CHANCE! Just about Atletico's best chance of the match as Garcia meets a loose clearance just inside the Getafe box, but his low effort is pushed wide of the post by Guaita.
GOAL! Getafe 0-1 Atletico (Mandzukic)
Atletico finally take the lead as Mandzukic turns home from close range following a mix-up inside the Getafe box. Griezmann's effort is palmed straight into the path of Mandzukic, who simply cannot miss.
It is a little harsh on the home side, but Atletico had started to turn the screw in the last five minutes or so. Getafe continue to complain about the goal, but there was not much contact between bodies.
SUB! Getafe are forced into a change here as Naldo replaces the injured Valera.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute.
HALF-TIME: Getafe 0-1 Atletico
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to an end with Atletico leading 1-0 courtesy of a close-range finish from Mandzukic. Getafe have had some bright moments in the final third, but largely failed to test the champions, who as it stands, are moving just two points off leaders Barcelona.
STATS! Atletico have dominated the possession with 66%, while they have had 11 attempts, seven of which were on target. Getafe, however, have managed just one effort off-target. There have been 10 fouls, but the referee has not deemed it necessary to issue any bookings thus far.
BENCH WATCH! The home side have already been forced into a change, with Naldo replacing the injured Valera. However, they still have the likes of Diawara, Castro and Sarabia in reserve. Atletico, meanwhile, have plenty of options in the shape of Gabi, Cerci, Saul and Raul Jimenez.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second 45 minutes. Can Getafe find a way to turn this around? The home side get the second period underway inside this noisy stadium.
No changes from either manager at the interval, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains 1-0 for the next 20 minutes or so. As expected, the visitors have taken control of the possession in the early couple of minutes here. Getafe need something.
Half-chance for the home side as Yoda finds some space inside the Atletico box after brilliant work from Alexis, but his effort is blocked by Godin. Decent period of the match for the home side.
Slightly untidy period of the match in the last couple of minutes, with the referee forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. Godin and Lafita is one to watch that is for certain!
CHANCES! Couple of brilliant chances for the home side. First, Moya saves a free kick from Escudero, which had taken a deflection off one of his defenders, before Moya denies Lafita from close range. Much better from the home side, who suddenly look dangerous in the final third.
BOOKING! Mandzukic is booked for a late challenge on Rodriguez.
It would be a surprise if more bookings did not follow as both sets of players continue to clash. Atletico have a half-chance when Koke delivers towards the head of Mandzukic, but the striker cannot connect.
It is really simmering at the moment as tensions continue to run high in the Spanish capital. Another free kick from Koke is delivered into the Getafe box, but Naldo is on hand to clear the danger. Yoda is down the other end for the home side moments later, but the midfielder is caught out.
RED CARD! Alexis (Getafe)
It is all kicking off here!
Both sets of players are becoming involved with each other following that nasty challenge from Alexis on Mandzukic, which has led to a red card. A couple of bookings might follow...
BOOKING! Miranda goes into the book for Atletico.
Alexis threw an arm into the face of Mandzukic - a closed fist at that. Poor from the defender. That has no place in football, or anywhere for that matter. Still 1-0 Atletico with 60 minutes on the clock here.
Replays have just shown that Rodriguez stood on the foot of Mandzukic just after the incident with Alexis and that led to Miranda pushing the midfielder. Poor all-round there. Back to the football now please.
Getafe have upped their tempo in the last couple of minutes, with Lafita and Sammir both looking dangerous in the final third, but still no clear opportunity for the home side. Atletico, meanwhile, are seemingly preparing to make a change, with Cerci receiving instructions from his manager.
CLOSE! Moya gets caught under a corner from Lafita, but the Atletico goalkeeper just does enough to palm clear. So nearly an equaliser for the home side with 65 minutes played.
SUBS! Getafe make their second change as Sammir is replaced by Diawara, while Atletico introduce Cerci in place of Griezmann, who has faded in the second period here.
Well, not too much in terms of clear chances in the second period, but it has not been quiet! Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and you get the feeling that we have not seen the last of the goals.
BOOKING! Lafita is booked for a pull on Turan.
It is all very frantic at the moment, with both sides struggling to gain a foothold in the middle of the park. Atletico look the team most likely to add to the scoring, but Getafe are a threat on the counter-attack.
BOOKING! Velazquez picks up a booking for an awful challenge on Turan.
Half-chance for Atletico as Koke strikes a free kick from outside the box, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. It remains 1-0 with little over 15 minutes of this ill-tempered contest remaining.
The referee continues to become involved each time two players clash in the middle of the pitch, even when the challenge is fair. Getafe are getting ready to make their third and final change and they need something as the home side continue to struggle in the final third. It remains 1-0 Atletico here.
Possession football from Atletico as they continue to dominant against a tiring Getafe.
SUB! Getafe make their third and final change as Sarabia replaces Hinestroza.
Juanfran continues to bomb down the right for the away side, but the defender has been caught offside twice in the last couple of minutes. The home side are down the other end with Diawara moments later, but the striker cannot move away from Godin. Little over 10 minutes of football remaining in Madrid.
Half-chance for the home side as Sarabia finds some space inside the Atletico box before striking on goal, but Moya is on hand to make the save. Good goalkeeping from the Spaniard and it needed to be.
Half-chance for Atletico as Cerci breaks free of three defenders before feeding Mandzukic, but the striker's touch is poor and Yoda is across to make a fine challenge. Still 1-0 Atletico here.
SUB! Atletico make their second change as Saul replaces Mandzukic.
BOOKING! Siqueira is booked for a late challenge on Lafita.
It is bright work from Yoda as the midfielder dances into the Atletico box before finding Rodriguez, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post. Half-chance for the home side to level.
Little over three minutes of normal time remaining and still Atletico lead 1-0 against 10-man Getafe. Lafita attempts to move away from Godin inside the Atletico box, but the defender makes a strong tackle.
Another half-chance for the home side as Sarabia strikes one from close range, but Godin is on hand to make another fine block. The pressure is all coming from Getafe in the latter stages here.
BOOKING! Sarabia is booked for the home side for dissent.
We are into the first of three additional minutes here.
Atletico have possession in the corner as the clock continues to tick on. They are heading for the points.
It has not been pretty from Atletico - far from it - but they are now less than 60 seconds away from a vital three points. Getafe pump the ball forward once again, but it comes back with interest from Godin.
FULL-TIME: Getafe 0-1 Atletico
So there we have it. Atletico do indeed hold on to claim all three points against Getafe. Big win for the visitors. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!