Mbappe matches Cristiano Ronaldo feat as Real Madrid return to top of La Liga | OneFootball

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Getafe at Estadio Coliseum on Sunday evening to go back to the top of the La Liga standings.

Manager Xabi Alonso made several changes to the side that started the win over Villarreal, including naming Rodrygo in the starting XI for the first time in a league game since August.

Madrid headed into the contest in desperate need of a victory, with Barcelona securing a late-gasp win over Girona on Saturday to go top of the La Liga standings.

Madrid showed real intent from the outset, with Kylian Mbappe looking dangerous, registering two shots inside 10 minutes.

Mauro Arambarri was the first Getafe player to set sights on Madrid’s goal, latching onto a cross in the 20th minute, but could not test goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with his effort.

Madrid continued to dominate possession but found it difficult to break down the hosts’ defence.

Four minutes before the break, Rodrygo forced David Soria to make a save, before the Spanish goalkeeper did brilliantly again to deny Franco Mastantuono and David Alaba.

Madrid continued to dominate possession after the restart but could not find a breakthrough.

Getafe were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute as substitute Allan Nyom was shown a straight red card.

Three minutes later, Madrid got the much-needed goal, when Mbappe received a pass from Arder Guler behind the Getafe defence and fired his effort home.

The strike marked the Frenchman’s 10th league goal, making him the first Madrid player to score 10 or more goals in his first nine La Liga games since Cristiano Ronaldo did the same in 2014/15.

The hopes of Getafe finding a leveller were dashed in the 84th minute when Alex Sancris was sent off for a second bookable offence, reducing the hosts to nine men.

Deep into stoppage-time, Courtois had to make a brilliant save to deny Getafe from salvaging a point.

The result means Madrid head into next week’s El Clasico, two points clear of defending champions Barcelona.