The defeat against Getafe has left Real Madrid 4 points behind league leaders Barcelona and has ignited a wave of fierce reactions from the Bernabeu stadium.
Two consecutive defeats in less than 10 days against Osasuna and Getafe have put coach Alvaro Arbeloa and his team under immense pressure ahead of the crucial stage of the season.
No one thought Real Madrid would lose at such a sensitive time. Just two weeks ago they were leading La Liga with a two-point advantage over Barcelona, but now they've even lost their top spot and are four points behind.
The Real Madrid players couldn't believe the bitter defeat at the Bernabeu.
The defeat against Getafe, following a previous loss to Osasuna, two opponents outside the Top 10, put "Los Blancos" in a difficult position. In just one week, the La Liga landscape reversed dramatically, and the optimistic atmosphere at the Royal team quickly gave way to doubt.
At the Bernabéu, disappointment was evident in every stand. Satriano's spectacular first-half goal left Real Madrid in a frustrating chase. They controlled possession but lacked creativity, their passing lacked sharpness, and they were unable to penetrate the opponent's defense.
As the clock ticked down to the 85th minute, many fans quietly left the stadium. The climax came with boos and shouts of "Florentino, resign!" from a section of the audience.
Vinicius and his teammates' efforts were not rewarded as they deserved.
The team's difficulties were compounded by personnel issues. Dean Huijsen, who had just returned from injury, received a yellow card and was suspended. Franco Mastantuono received a direct red card late in the match for reacting to referee Muñiz Ruiz, while Vinicius Junior was also cautioned.
Carreras had previously received a yellow card and will miss the next round. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa can only hope that center-back Raul Asencio recovers from his neck injury in time to participate in the away match against Celta Vigo, as Eder Militao will still be sidelined.
Mastantuono's red card adds to Real Madrid's already depleted squad.
The four-point gap with Barcelona isn't the end of the road, especially with the "El Clásico" at Camp Nou on May 10th still ahead. However, the worrying aspect is Real Madrid's unstable mentality just as the Champions League is approaching. The first leg of the round of 16 against Man City next week is imminent, and their key striker Kylian Mbappé is likely still unavailable.
Mbappe is currently recovering from an injury in Paris (France) and is unlikely to be able to play for several weeks.
"At Real Madrid, nobody ever gives up," coach Arbeloa emphasized. However, to dispel the dark clouds hanging over the Bernabéu, the Royal team needs a convincing response, not just reassuring statements to calm the morale of the Madridistas.