Atlético de Madrid breaks a curse against Getafe that lasted more than two years in LaLiga

This Saturday on the Metropolitano, Atlético de Madrid broke a curious streak that already exceeded two years. For the primary time in all that point, a purple and white opponent was despatched off in a LaLiga match. The final time that the trencilla had expelled a Colchoneros rival within the home championship was on September 28, 2023 in a match during which referee Martínez Munuera expelled Chimy Ávila and Álvaro Morata in the identical play. The match ended with a 0-2 victory for Simeone’s crew in El Sadar towards Osasuna.

The motion got here within the fifty fifth minute, when Abdel Abqar, Getafe CF’s centre-back, starred in a scene as uncommon because it was decisive: he grabbed Alexander Sørloth from the aspect in a dispute inside the realm. The referee Ortiz Arias didn’t hesitate and confirmed the Moroccan defender a direct purple card.

🖥️💥 Certainly one of lime and one other of sand for the VAR within the Metropolitano.

👉🏻 Abqar pinches Sorloth’s crotch with out the ball being in play.

✅ 𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗔 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗔.

▪️ Fully unsportsmanlike and humiliating motion by the Getafe defender. pic.twitter.com/rOBOD3vxCJ

— VAR Archive (@ArchivoVAR) March 14, 2026

The Norwegian striker responded by pushing his rival away, however the referee determined to sanction him solely with a yellow card contemplating that the preliminary provocation had been from the blue participant. The choice left the blue crew with ten gamers for greater than half an hour and broke a statistic that had already change into nearly a small curse for the purple and whites.

Molina opened the can with an incredible aim

Past the expulsion, the sport was determined very quickly. The ninth minute had barely handed when Nahuel Molina unleashed an actual whiplash from exterior the realm that ended up within the prime nook. A fantastic aim that was sufficient for Atlético to handle the remainder of the match with calm and ability.

Diego Pablo Simeone’s crew confronted the conflict with fairly a couple of rotations. Common footballers equivalent to Julián Álvarez, Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente and Giuliano Simeone began on the bench and didn’t come on till properly into the second half.

First begin for Vargas

The afternoon was additionally particular for Obed Vargas. The Mexican midfielder, signed this winter from the Seattle Sounders for round eight million euros, loved his first begin within the purple and white shirt. One other notable absence was that of David Hancko, the middle again with essentially the most minutes this season, who didn’t take part within the match.

With the rating of their favor, the purple and white crew slowed down and tried to regulate the tempo of the sport with out taking too many dangers. Even so, José Bordalás’ males had been about to damage the afternoon in stoppage time with a harmful header that compelled Juan Musso, who began as a result of Jan Oblak’s muscle harm, to point out off. His cease prevented a tie and unleashed reduction within the Metropolitano.

Key weeks in the midst of Cholo’s crew

The victory permits Atlético de Madrid to succeed in 57 factors and surpass Villarreal CF in third place within the desk. The purple and whites are actually six factors behind Actual Madrid, who play this Saturday on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium towards Elche CF.

However past the classification, the victory comes at a key second within the calendar. Simeone’s crew faces per week that might mark a part of the season. On Wednesday (9:00 p.m.), they may go to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play the second leg of the UEFA Champions League spherical of 16 towards Igor Tudor’s Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, simply 4 days later one other main occasion will arrive: the Madrid derby towards Actual Madrid on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) on the Bernabéu. Two big video games that can measure Atlético’s aspirations and for which this victory towards Getafe represents an additional dose of confidence.