Mueez Ajao
– Casemiro scored his first goal of the season as Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday to maintain their 12-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table.
– The Brazil midfielder opened the scoring with a diving header from Vinicius Junior’s pinpoint cross in the 38th minute before Lucas Vazquez added a second half an hour later — after exchanging passes with Rodrygo — to secure the win.
– The result leaves leaders Real Madrid on 72 points with seven matches left to play, comfortably ahead of second-placed Sevilla on 60 points, and Barcelona, who play on Sunday, on 57.
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– Getafe had beaten Madrid 1-0 when the two sides met in January, and Carlo Ancelotti made four changes to the team that won 3-1 at Chelsea in midweek with Marcelo, Lucas Vazquez, Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo coming in.
– Madrid started well and Karim Benzema had a 4th minute goal ruled out for offside. The home side created a string of chances as Marcelo had a shot saved by goalkeeper David Soria, Lucas Vazquez fired into the side netting, Fede Valverde was denied by Soria and Vinicius had an effort saved after after slotting the ball through the legs of defender Djene Dakonam.
– Getafe posed little threat — David Alaba had to race back to cover when Borja Mayoral got in behind in a rare attack — before Vinicius provided the delivery that saw Madrid open the scoring. The winger crossed with the outside of his right foot for Casemiro to head past Soria, Vinicius’ seventh assist in LaLiga this season.
– Casemiro and Fede Valverde were both booked before halftime, the Brazilian’s card meaning he will miss Madrid’s trip to Sevilla next weekend.
– After the break, Marcelo and Valverde both went close before Vazquez made it 2-0 in the 69th minute, cutting inside from the right before finishing low into the bottom corner.
– With Madrid heading for the win, Gareth Bale came off the bench and was whistled by the Real Madrid fans in his first appearance at the Bernabeu since February 2020, before Getafe’s Enes Unal hit the post in the visitors’ best chance of the night.
