Real Madrid go back to the top of La Liga thanks to a 2-0 win over Getafe at the Estadio Coliseum on Thursday evening.
A Joselu brace was enough for Los Blancos to open up a crucial two point lead in the title race heading into their top of the table clash with Girona in two weeks.
Getafe hit the post twice in the second half but, overall, Madrid were good value for their sixth consecutive La Liga win.
How the game unfolded
After a cagey opening ten minutes, Real Madrid finally created the first clear cut chance of the game via a lofted through ball over the top of the Getafe defence. The ball, played by Nacho Fernandez, fell to the fee of Vinicius Junior who then burst into the box and forced goalkeeper David Soria into a smart save at his near post.
A few minutes later, the breakthrough came. A wonderful cross from Lucas Vazquez from the right flank found the head of the towering Joselu, who subsequently powered the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Madrid dominated a rather dire Getafe side thereafter, with Joselu coming close to doubling his tally and his team’s lead in the 38th minute. Once again, the striker was found with a cross from Vazquez who drilled the ball low into his path on the edge of the box. Joselu struck his first-time effort well, however Soria was on hand to palm it around the post.
Following a few half-time substitutions Getafe finally began to show some signs of life at the start of the second half, with Man Utd loanee Mason Greenwood hitting the post with a quick strike from the right of the box.
Those signs of life were quickly scuppered though by another Joselu goal in the 56th minute. The striker controlled a sharp pass into feet from Vinicius with his right foot, then curled the ball beautifully into the bottom corner with his left.
It really should’ve been 3-0 shortly after when Jude Bellingham led a quick counter attack which culminated in Joselu unselfishly squaring to Vinicius when clean through on goal. Rather amazingly, after faking a first time shot, Vini saw his effort on goal saved by the sprawling body of Soria.
Soria got the best of Vinicius in a one-v-one situation soon after as well, standing up well to parry clear an effort on goal from the Brazilian.
Getafe almost made Vinicius and Madrid pay for said missed chances with a quarter of an hour remaining. Some good high pressing from Getafe led to Borja Mayoral finding himself clean through on goal on the left of the penalty area. His subsequent effort however, while well struck, could only find the near upright and spin clear of danger.
GK: Andriy Lunin – 5/10 – The post made more saves than he did.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – 7/10 – His wonderful cross into the box set up the opening goal.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 5/10 – Worryingly went off injured at half-time.
CB: Nacho Fernandez – 6/10 – His distribution from defence was very good all game.
LB: Ferland Mendy – 6/10 – Did well on both sides of the ball.
CM: Luka Modric – 7/10 – His usual self on and off the ball. That’s quite good, if you’re wondering.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 8/10 – A brick wall in the middle of the park for Madrid. The France international won 11 duals, 100% of his tackles and recovered possession nine time. You can’t ask for much more than that.
CM: Federico Valverde – 6/10 – Caused problems with his powerful running in midfield.
AM: Jude Bellingham – 6/10 – Another quiet outing for the England international. That isn’t to say he did much wrong though, he completed 93% of his passes and won five duals.
ST: Joselu – 9/10 – Getafe couldn’t deal with him at all. Bagged a brace and was generally fantastic from first minute to the last.
ST: Vinicius Junior – 5/10 – Just not his day in front of goal. The Brazilian missed a few very, very good chances.
Substitutes
SUB: Eduardo Camavinga (46′ for Rudiger) – 6/10
SUB: Rodrygo Goes (75′ for Vinicius) – 6/10
SUB: Brahim Diaz (87′ for Bellingham) – N/A
SUB: Dani Carvajal (87′ for Joselu) – N/A
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti – 8/10 – The decision to start Joselu proved to be a masterstroke, with the veteran forward bagging a brace in the win.
