Real Madrid battled to a narrow but crucial 1-0 win over Getafe in a tense Madrid derby at the Coliseum, returning to the top of the La Liga table after a hard-fought encounter.
Xabi Alonso made a bold selection call by benching Vinicius Junior and Arda Guler, opting instead to start Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes alongside Kylian Mbappe.
The hosts, however, nearly broke the deadlock through Alex Sancris, whose fierce volley narrowly missed Thibaut Courtois’ post. Despite efforts, both teams went into halftime without a goal.
Vinicius sparks chaos as Getafe go down to Nlnine
Madrid increased their pressure after the break, and the introductions of Guler and Vinicius Junior changed the game.
Moments after coming on, Vinicius was involved in a clash that saw Getafe’s Allan Nyom receive a red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Getafe’s frustration grew when Alex received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Vinicius, reducing the hosts to nine men.
Courtois preserves Madrid’s lead
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Getafe came close to snatching an equalizer deep into stoppage time, but Courtois produced a vital save to deny Abu Kamara.
The win sends Real Madrid back to the top of La Liga, two points ahead of Barcelona.
