Makeshift Real Madrid emerged with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Getafe in LaLiga on Saturday to return to second of the standings.

The reigning champions secured a slender victory, putting the pressure on league leaders Barcelona, who must now defeat city rivals Espanyol on Sunday to keep their hopes of clinching the title this weekend alive.

The only goal of the match came in the 70th minute when Marco Asensio’s shot from distance took a deflection, deceiving the Getafe goalkeeper and finding the back of the net. The game itself lacked excitement and failed to ignite the fans’ passions, as both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti opted to heavily rotate his squad, ensuring his key players remained fresh for the crucial second leg against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Only three players from the starting lineup in the first leg retained their spots, namely goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Eduardo Camavinga, and Fede Valverde.

However, Camavinga’s involvement was cut short as he limped off the field in the closing stages due to a knee problem sustained in a collision with Juan Iglesias.

The first half failed to provide much excitement for the Madrid faithful, with the highlight being the team’s presentation of the Copa del Rey trophy, which they won the previous weekend in Seville, at the Santiago Bernabeu. Apart from that, the opening period lacked action at both ends of the pitch, with forward Eden Hazard looking off the pace in his first league start since September.