Real Madrid failed to catch up with the Spanish league title race after a poor 1-1 draw with Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The draw kept Real in fourth place in the Spanish La Liga with 44 points, trailing leaders Sevilla by six points, while Getafe are in 8th place on 37 points. The hosts were caught surprisingly by a well-taken strike from Daniel Guiza in the 33rd minute after good work from Mario Cotelo to release Guiza with a fine pass. Ruud Van Nistelrooy equalized from the spot on the stroke of halftime after Brazilian forward Robinho was brought down following a long ball from David Beckham.
Sinama-Pongolle of Recreativo Getafe held on well to secure the point after a one-way traffic second half in which Real were unable to snatch a winning goal despite efforts from Robinho and Fernando Gago. Real's ill-fated night was completed after David Beckham, Jose Antonio Reyes and Gonzalo Higuain were all taken-off injured and it seems that Reyes and Beckham are set to miss the Bayern clash on Wednesday. Real Zaragoza benefited from the draw at the Bernabeu to close the gap with Real Madrid to just 2 points after coming back to beat Real Sociedad 3-2 and climb to fifth. Recreativo beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 with a penalty from Liverpool-bound striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Real Betis beat Deportivo and Santander defeated Osasuna with the same one goal score line.
