Real Madrid took advantage of Barcelona’s slip-up on Saturday to move within a point of the La Liga summit with a 2-0 win over Getafe at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The victory marked Los Blancos’ 16th consecutive home win against Getafe, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The game was far from straightforward for Real Madrid, who were without several key players due to injury. Getafe, who had won their previous two matches, proved to be stubborn opponents, limiting Real Madrid to few chances in the opening 25 minutes. However, the game turned in Real Madrid’s favor just shy of the 30-minute mark when Antonio Rüdiger was dragged down in the penalty area by Allan Nyom, leading to a penalty kick.
Jude Bellingham stepped up to take the penalty, showing great composure to strike the ball into the net. The Englishman’s goal seemed to spark Kylian Mbappé into life, as the Frenchman doubled Real Madrid’s lead just minutes later with a fine 20-yard finish. Mbappé’s goal proved to be the decisive blow, as Getafe struggled to create chances in the second half.
Despite a few scares, including a penalty decision that was overturned by VAR, Real Madrid saw out the win and moved within a point of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table. The victory was a welcome boost for Ancelotti’s side, which has been plagued by injuries in recent weeks. With a game in hand over Barcelona, Real Madrid will be confident of pushing their rivals all the way in the title race.
The win over Getafe marked Real Madrid’s 16th consecutive home win against their opponents, and it extended their impressive record at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Since April 2023, only Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid at home in the league, and Ancelotti’s side will be looking to maintain their strong form in the coming weeks.