MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid regained first place in the Spanish league with a comfortable 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday in a match postponed because of the Spanish Super Cup.
Joselu Mato scored a goal in part to leave Madrid two points behind Girona at the top of the table.
It is the sixth straight league win for Madrid, who are unbeaten in 25 games in all competitions since a 3-1 league loss to Atletico Madrid in September.
Madrid is 10 points ahead of Atletico and defending champion Barcelona. Atletico beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Wednesday, while Barcelona beat Osasuna 1-0. Both matches were postponed due to Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup win last month in Saudi Arabia.
Madrid beat Atletico in the semi-finals of the Super Cup before beating Barcelona in the final. Atletico then eliminated Madrid in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Atletico face Madrid on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Madrid opened the scoring against Getafe with a header from Joselu in the 14th minute after a well-placed cross from Lucas Vázquez from the right wing. Joselu doubled the lead with a low shot from the area in the 56th minute.
Vinícius Júnior squandered some clear one-on-one chances in the second half. Getafe found the woodwork once when trailing 2-0.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have won 20 games in their 25-match unbeaten run.
“It’s a wonderful game for us,” said Ancelotti, who rotated some of his players ahead of Sunday’s derby. “We’re going on a smart run and the team is motivated. We played well from start to finish, now we’re improving. “
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger did go backwards in the second half after suffering a heavy blow to his leg before the break.
Ancelotti had few defensive options because of injuries and had to improvise with midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as a central defender alongside Nacho Fernández.
Ancelotti was shown a yellow card after the final whistle for complaining for a late penalty kick that was not called.
Getafe had just got a win in Granada after winning 3 consecutive league games. The club from the south of Madrid remains in tenth position.
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