Getafe 0-3 Real Madrid: Varane gets Zidane's men back on track with derby win

Real Madrid returned to winning ways in LaLiga with a 3-0 win over local rival Getafe at Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday.

Published : Jan 04, 2020 23:41 IST

Raphael Varane celebrates Real Madrid's opening goal with Eder Militao.
Raphael Varane celebrates Real Madrid's opening goal with Eder Militao.
lightbox-info

Raphael Varane celebrates Real Madrid's opening goal with Eder Militao.

Raphael Varane scored one and played a big part in another as Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory away at neighbour Getafe that took it top of LaLiga.

Madrid drew three straight league matches prior to the two-week break, including back-to-back games without scoring, but got back on track on its return to action on Saturday.

The visitor ended its goalless run in fortuitous circumstances as opposition keeper David Soria helped the ball into his own net under pressure from Varane.

Varane headed in a second eight minutes into the second half at Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez and Luka Modric tapped home a late third as Madrid saw things through to move a point above Barcelona after playing a game more.

Madrid fired a blank at this ground last term but edged in front after 34 minutes on this latest visit, Soria getting the final touch after Varane beat him to Ferland Mendy's cross.

MATCH CENTRE

The visitors relied on Thibaut Courtois to keep them in front, though, the Belgium keeper denying Faycal Fajr and Leandro Cabrera with impressive saves at the end of the first half.

And those stops proved defining as, two minutes after Getafe had a penalty shout for handball against Eder Militao rejected, Varane powered home a header that was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check.

Gareth Bale was thwarted by Soria from a one-on-one late on but Madrid scored a third in added time through Modric, who had a simple finish after being teed up by substitute Federico Valverde at the end of a swift counter.

What does it mean? Madrid back on track

Back-to-back blanks for Los Blancos made it advantage Barcelona heading into the mid-season break in Spain's top flight.

This Varane-inspired victory moves it a point above Barca, which plays its game in hand against Catalan rival Espanyol later on Saturday.

Another clean sheet for Courtois

Courtois was last month described as the best goalkeeper in the world by his Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez and the ex-Chelsea shot-stopper has certainly stepped up of late.

This was his third clean sheen on the spin, secured thanks to two fine stops in the space of 163 seconds at the end of a closely contested first half.

Stranded Soria gifts goal to Madrid

Getafe could have gone fourth with victory and was arguably the side on top when the visitor opened the scoring via a huge helping hand - literally - from former Madrid youth product Soria.

He attempted to punch clear Mendy's left-sided delivery but Varane got the slightest of glances to it first, with the final touch coming off Soria's gloves for an own goal.

What's next?

Madrid turns focus to Wednesday's Supercopa de Espana semifinal with Valencia in Jeddah, while Getafe faces third-tier side Badalona in the Copa del Rey second round on its return to action in a week's time.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment