Real Madrid defeated Getafe 1-0 on Wednesday to maintain within striking distance of the top spot in the Spanish league, keeping Barcelona firmly in the rearview mirror only days before the bitter rivals square off in the Copa del Rey final.

The game-changing goal came from Arda Güler, who scored in the first half to put Madrid four points behind Barça, who had just defeated Mallorca 1-0 the night before.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti chose to rotate his team, using a number of backup players in anticipation of Saturday's match in Seville. While Vinícius Júnior was substituted in the second half to conserve energy, rising Brazilian prodigy Endrick was given his maiden La Liga start and showed signs of potential. Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, made a brief appearance in the second half as Madrid purposefully and pragmatically handled the outcome.

Late in Real Madrid's victory over Getafe, Eduardo Camavinga was substituted out due to a suspected muscle injury, further hurting the team's chances of making it to the Copa del Rey final. David Alaba, who is also doubtful for Saturday due to a similar injury, was replaced by the French midfielder at halftime, further causing confusion in Madrid's starting lineup before the crucial match.

“We’ll see, but it’s unlikely that they will be available on Saturday,” Ancelotti said.

In terms of head-to-head matches, Madrid hasn't had a good run to the final. Los Blancos suffered humiliating losses in both of this season's Clásico matches, losing 4-0 in the league at the Bernabéu and 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final. Ancelotti's team is now facing yet another test of their depth and resiliency as two important players could be out.

“Fortunately, I scored the goal that gave us the three points,” Güler said. “We knew it was going to be a tough match. It was important to give us confidence for the final”

Arda Güler gave Real Madrid a hard-fought victory at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in the twenty-first minute by curling a crisp right-footed strike into the net. Goalie Thibaut Courtois stepped up as Getafe tried to equalize late in the game, making two vital saves to guarantee Madrid won all three points.

After their heartbreaking Champions League quarterfinal loss to Arsenal, Madrid's third straight league victory provided a slight lift. Getafe's difficulties persisted in the interim. The southern Madrid team has now dropped to 12th position in the standings after losing four of its past five league games and suffering three straight losses.

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