MADRID (Interstat) — A solitary early goal from defender Nahuel Molina proved decisive as Club Atlético de Madrid opened its La Liga season with a 1-0 victory over crosstown rival Getafe on Saturday, March 14, 2026, defying pregame projections that favored the visitors.

The match, contested before a full crowd at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, was a tense and often ill-tempered affair that saw a red card and seven yellow cards issued. The result immediately reversed the expectations set by statistical models. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw, while its ELO system gave Getafe a 53.40 percent probability to secure an away win.

Atlético de Madrid needed only eight minutes to establish a lead it would never relinquish. Molina, starting in his defensive role, surged forward to finish a precise team move, beating Getafe goalkeeper David Soria to send the home supporters into an early frenzy. The Argentine’s goal stood as the game’s only score, making him the unambiguous man of the match.

Getafe’s task grew exponentially more difficult just before the hour mark. In the 55th minute, defender Abdel Abqar was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge, forcing his side to play the final 35 minutes plus stoppage time with only 10 men. The incident sparked a period of heightened friction, with three yellow cards shown to Getafe players — Alexander Sørloth, Zaid Romero and Obed Vargas — in the ensuing 13 minutes as they attempted to disrupt Atlético’s rhythm.

Despite the numerical advantage, Atlético de Madrid could not find a second goal to ease the pressure. Getafe, organized defensively even while shorthanded, limited clear chances. The hosts’ frustration was evident as the game stretched into a lengthy stoppage time, with goal-scorer Molina receiving a yellow card in the 98th minute. Getafe’s Martín Satriano was also booked in the 100th minute as the match concluded in a flurry of stoppages.

The victory gives Diego Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid a perfect start to the new La Liga campaign, moving its record in the competition to one win and no losses. Across all competitions this season, the club holds an identical 1-0-0 mark. For José Bordalás’s Getafe, the defeat marks a disappointing beginning, leaving them with a record of no wins and one loss both in La Liga and in all competitions.

The match underscored the unpredictable nature of local derbies, where pregame analytics and form are often secondary to momentous individual plays and in-game discipline. Molina’s early attacking contribution from defense provided the narrow margin, while Getafe’s ill-discipline, culminating in Abqar’s dismissal, sealed their fate in a contest where they were statistically favored to at least earn a point.