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FBL-ESP-LIGA-REALMADRID-GETAFE
Ruthless Real Madrid dismantle gutsy Getafe
MADRID, Jan 5, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Real Madrid made an impressive start to the
year as they picked apart a robust Getafe side to win 3-0 in La Liga on
Saturday.
Raphael Varane was the instigator of two goals at the Coliseum Alfonso
Perez, first pressuring Getafe David Soria into a missed punch and an own-
goal before himself heading home a cross from Toni Kroos.
Luka Modric then added a third deep into injury-time after a brilliant
first-time pass by Gareth Bale had set Madrid away on the counter-attack.
Victory sends Zinedine Zidane’s side top of the table briefly at least, one
point above Barcelona, who play later on Saturday against Catalan rivals
Espanyol.
Getafe remain seventh and very much in the race for Champions League
qualification. Another excellent season under coach Jose Bordalas is proving
last year’s remarkable top-four challenge was far from a fluke.
But their usually stubborn defence was overly-generous as Soria’s mistake
and then a free header put Madrid in charge before Modric complete what was,
in the end, a comfortable win. Without either Sergio Ramos, who was
suspended, or Eden Hazard, who continues to nurse an ankle injury, this
looked an awkward fixture for Zidane’s team on the back of a two-week winter
break.
Instead, they keep the pressure on Barcelona before travelling to Saudi
Arabia next week, where they could be set for a Clasico final in the Spanish
Super Cup, with Valencia up first on Wednesday in the last four.
Hazard will stay at home after Zidane confirmed on Friday the Belgian will
not return until later this month at the earliest.
His worryingly extended absence has offered a reprieve for Isco, who
started again, and Bale, who twice should have scored in the second half,
only to tee up Modric via substitute Fede Valverde.
At the other end, Thibaut Courtois appears finally to be finding his best
form after a rocky start since his summer move from Chelsea. Courtois made
three strong saves before Varane’s second gave Madrid breathing space.
Getafe’s success under Bordalas has been built upon tenacity as well as
discipline and hard work, with right-back Allan Nyom particularly eager to
make his presence felt on Bale early on.
Yet one late challenge too many earned Nyom a yellow card and Madrid a
dangerous free-kick that led to the opener shortly after the half-hour mark.
Kroos’ cross was put back in by Ferland Mendy on the opposite side and
while Soria sprung out to punch, he failed to connect and only succeeded in
sending the ball bobbling into his own net.
Karim Benzema tested Soria at his near post but Courtois was the busier of
the two keepers. He palmed away a stinging volley from Mauro Arambarri,
pushed out a drive from Faycal Fajr and then blocked a close-range header
from Leandro Cabrera.
Getafe’s frustration was compounded eight minutes into the second half when
an unmarked Varane nodded in Kroos’ whipped cross and the home side never
looked like being revived thereafter.
Bale tried to chip Soria and then go round him but made amends for his
misses in injury-time. Mendy twisted free before feeding Bale, who curled the
ball beautifully, first time and on the turn, into the path of the sprinting
Valverde. He could have scored himself but instead set up Modric, who
finished into an open net.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0938 hrs