Real Madrid clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Getafe at Estadio Coliseum on Sunday evening, reclaiming the top spot in the La Liga standings.
Manager Xabi Alonso made several adjustments to the lineup that secured a victory against Villarreal, notably starting Rodrygo in a league match for the first time since August.
Entering the match, Madrid desperately needed a win, especially after Barcelona’s late victory over Girona on Saturday had pushed them to the top of the table.
From the very beginning, Madrid displayed their intent, with Kylian Mbappe coming close with two shots within the first ten minutes.
Mauro Arambarri of Getafe had the first effort towards Madrid’s goal in the 20th minute, connecting with a cross, but failed to challenge goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
While Madrid maintained control of the ball, breaking through the host’s defense proved challenging.
Rodrygo’s shot forced a good save from David Soria, who later denied both Franco Mastantuono and David Alaba with impressive stops.
After halftime, Madrid continued to dominate possession, yet the deadlock remained unbroken.
Things took a turn for Getafe in the 77th minute when substitute Allan Nyom received a straight red card, leaving them with ten men.
Just three minutes later, Madrid found the breakthrough. Mbappe received a pass from Arder Guler, slipped behind the Getafe defense, and struck the ball into the net.
This goal marked Mbappe’s 10th in the league, making him the first Real Madrid player to hit the double-digit mark in their first nine La Liga matches since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014/15.
Getafe’s chances of equalizing faded in the 84th minute when Alex Sancris was shown a second yellow card, leaving them with nine men.
Courtois showcased his skills with a remarkable save in stoppage time, ensuring that Getafe couldn’t level the score.
As they prepare for next week’s El Clasico, Madrid holds a two-point lead over defending champions Barcelona.