The defender slid home the only goal of the game midway through the second period to break the home team's resistamce, but in truth Bernd Schuster's side will be delighted to have snatched all the points.
Getafe battled throughout and were the more attacking side for the majority of an encounter that they really should have taken something from.
A combination of wayward finishing, luck and good goalkeeping from Iker Casillas kept them out, however, and Madrid were able to maintain their unbeaten record.
The fact that Michael Laudrup's team had 16 chances on goal to Madrid four could be considered to make the final score unfair, or just show that finishing chances at the highest level is crucial.
As early as the second minute Getafe threatened the visitors goal as Ikechukwu Uche raced onto a ball into the channel on the right and after beating Fabio Cannavaro tried an ambitious shot from the angle of the area that goes just over the goal and behind.
Casillas was then called into action to deny Uche again after Cannavaro's poor clearance had deflected into the Nigerian striker's path.
At the other end Raúl went close for Madrid as he connected with a cross to the near post that Óscar Ustari did well to turn away from almost point-blank range.
While the main battles came in midfield, it was an open encounter that saw both sides push forward, but it was Getafe that set the pace and probed Madrid throughout.
In the 19th minute Manu Del Moral edged towards the penalty area and, as Sergio Ramos backed off, the Getafe forward was able to find time and space to send a low drive that beat Casillas but cannoned back off the post and away.
Uche had the home team's clearest chance of the half shortly before the break when Licht's centre from the left finds him completely unmarked in the centre of goal just eight yards out, but the striker connects poorly with the ball and steers it way off target.
The second period began much like the first ended with Getafe going forward and Casillas was called upon to make another good stop as he dived low to his left to keep out Pablo's free-kick.
Sergio Ramos then kept the ball out on the line after Del Moral's cutback found Nacho in the centre of goal.
Bernd Schuster knew something had to change and put Guti on and the effect immediately lifted the visitors and it was during that sudden bright period that they opened their account.
Moments after Fernando Gago had spurned a good chance, Raúl fed Arjen Robben down the right and the Dutchman rolled the ball across the face of goal where Ramos arrived at the far post to prod home from close range.
There may have been a hint of offside when Robben was picked out, but the goal stood and Getafe had to fight back if they wanted to earn something from the game and they did just that.
Nacho turned away from Miguel Torres just outside the area and then lifted a shot that had Casillas diving at full stretch to his right, but the ball looped just wide of the post before Casillas kept out a long range effort from Uche and within seconds had to dive at the striker's feet to deny him a second time in quick succession.
Julio Baptista almost ended the game as a contest when he took aim from 20 yard only to see his shot beat Ustari before bouncing back off the far post.
Despite the pressure Casillas's goal stayed untouched, but Getafe did waste two glorious chances in the final minutes when Cata Diaz met a free-kick from the right-hand corner of the pitch and saw his header rebound off the crossbar.
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