La Liga: Real Brace Up For Title Race With Getafe's Victory

Coronavirus and injury-depleted Real Madrid moved to within five points of LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid on Tuesday by beating struggling Getafe 2-0.

Madrid were without nine first-team players, prompting Zinedine Zidane to adopt a 3-5-2 formation which he admitted they had not practised, with Marcelo and the 20-year-old Marvin Park as wing-backs.

Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy scored the goals at Valdebebas, with Mendy's finish teed up by his fellow left-back Marcelo, who revelled in his new role.

Madrid's victory puts them in sight of city rivals Atletico even if Diego Simeone's side have played two games fewer.

"We have to believe in ourselves, we have to fight," said Zidane. "There is a lot of the league left, a lot in front of us."

Atletico had slipped up for the first time in nine league matches on Monday night, a late equaliser conceded in a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo giving Madrid and Barcelona a ray of hope in the title race.

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And while the trophy remains very much in Atletico's hands, Madrid can only hope to increase the pressure by building some momentum themselves, especially with a Champions League tie against Atalanta around the corner.

Last week, an angry Zidane had castigated reporters for showing his team a lack of "respect" following a run of just two wins in seven matches, which included going out in both the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey.

His players have responded, backing up a gutsy win over Huesca on Saturday by seeing off a Getafe side that looks a pale shadow of the team that has challenged for the top four in recent seasons.

Getafe drop to 13th, four points above the bottom three as the threat of relegation looms.