Joselu appeases Getafe

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Joselu, at the moment of scoring the first goal against Getafe. Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno (Getty Images)

Real Madrid entered ten decisive days for the League through the harshest door, the home of Getafe, where they were undefeated, and came out with three points that gave them back the lead in the tournament and intense concern for Rüdiger, one of the two center backs who were healthy, and who retired limping after a blow to his left leg.

It was the worst thing he took away from a Coliseum that was not as fierce as advertised and where he handled the duel with authority, and killed it with Joselu's aim.

GETGetafe

0

David Soria, Omar Alderete, Gastón Álvarez, Domingos Duarte (Juan Latasa, min. 45), Damián Suárez, Luis Milla, José Ángel Carmona (Jorge Martín, min. 45), Maksimovic (Yellu Santiago, min. 87), Djene ( Diego Rico, min. 45), Mayoral (Mata, min. 87) and Mason Greenwood

RMA Real Madrid

2

Andriy Lunin, Nacho, Rüdiger (Camavinga, min. 45), Lucas Vázquez, Ferland Mendy, Jude Bellingham (Dani Carvajal, min. 88), Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior (Rodrygo, min. 75) and Joselu (Brahim Diaz, min. 88)

Goals

0-1 min.

14: Joselu.

0-2 min.

55: Joselu.

Referee

Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea

Yellow cards Djene (min. 26), Ferland Mendy (min. 30), Aurelien Tchouameni (min. 92) and Ancelotti (min. 93)

It was only because Vinicius was much less inspired than Soria, almost miraculous.

But Ancelotti's men began a decisive stretch confidently and in the lead.

The next stop comes on Sunday at the Bernabéu against Atlético, the only one that has beaten Madrid this season.

And twice: in the League and in the Cup. Then, at the end, the last domestic acceleration before returning to the Champions League, the visit of Girona on Saturday, the closest rival for the title.

With this panorama, Ancelotti chose to reserve Carvajal.

Kroos and Rodrygo to bring on Lucas Vázquez, Modric and Joselu.

And because of them the danger began.

The right wing was the most promising route at the beginning.

The Croatian doubled Lucas, put the ball into the area and Joselu sent it to the crossbar.

The forward also later found the goal there, when he headed in a cross from the side.

At that time, Getafe did not seem as fierce as it is known.

Bordalás pushed his defenders to draw a very high line, narrowing the space in which they could play.

They pressed more positionally than physically.

Madrid explored the field from side to side, pass by pass, with Modric, Bellingham, Valverde and Tchouameni appearing and disappearing in the center.

The ball flowed and they flowed.

The dance seemed harmless, but its disorder was disrupting the fabric of Getafe.

A lane opened up on the right for Lucas, or Nacho found Vinicius running into that immense terrain that opened up behind the defense.

The Brazilian stood alone with Soria, and the goalkeeper deactivated the shot.

Getafe seemed strangely contemplative.

The few moments he spent on the ball were tried to be organized by Luis Milla, with the help of Mason Greenwood.

The Englishman, who in theory formed up front, sometimes even dropped out to play with the centre-backs.

Very far from where he could do harm.

The most dangerous thing that happened in favor of Getafe was a slip by Lunin, who complained about the studs, and a forceful defensive action by Rüdiger that ended in the German's injury.

Greenwood had found open field on the left, pursued by Modric, when the center-back crossed him and ended all hope.

Also with Rüdiger's left knee, who remained limping, until Ancelotti told him to sit on the grass.

Medical treatment failed to revive him and after the break Camavinga appeared on the pitch and Tchouameni took up center position next to Nacho.

At half-time, Ancelotti changed out of obligation and Bordalás out of desperation.

He introduced Latasa, Rico and Jordí Martín and the team looked more like that untamed and suffocating creature that the coach has built.

The entry of Latasa as a partner of Mayoral, two Madrid youth players up front, moved Greenwood to the middle and curiously that brought him closer to the goal.

A shot on the post from inside the area and another from distance that was lost outside marked the change in tone.

Getafe changed the positional control of the beginning for some recklessness.

He threatened Madrid, but he also invited them.

And Ancelotti's team launched themselves voraciously at the prey.

Bordalás opened that small room that he had turned the field into at the beginning and Real found air to run.

In the first, Joselu found himself on the front foot, cut back and scored the second.

In the uncontrolled exchange of blows, Madrid had the advantage.

It came out in waves.

Joselu headed wide.

Then he reached the area alone on the run, gave it to Vinicius and the Brazilian got rid of Soria with a dribble.

But when he was going to score, the goalkeeper reached out from the ground.

It was not the night of Vinicius, who again found himself alone in front of Soria and shot him to the body.

The goalkeeper, as inspired as he was at the Bernabéu, held Getafe back while Greenwood continued to strike from the right.

It was the most difficult thing to decipher for Bordalás' team, who saw how Mayoral also finished off the post.

Getafe hit, but they also conceded.

But the game stayed there, in the first local defeat at the Coliseum, Madrid's lead, the uncertainty over Rüdiger's condition and the absence of Tchouameni in the derby, due to an accumulation of cards.

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