Joselu’s brace gives Real Madrid grace

Real Madrid created a two-point gap ahead of Girona on the La Liga table after their 2-0 win away at Getafe in a La Liga fixture on Thursday.

Joselu was the star of the game as he netted his first Real Madrid brace in La Liga to help Carlo Ancelotti’s side seize advantage over Girona in the title race by beating Getafe 2-0.

The defeat is just a second defeat for the hosts in their last 14 league matches at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. 

Real Madrid’s last two matches needed a comeback to get all the three points, but this time, Los Blancos looked comfortable right from the start. Vinícius Júnior was the first to test David Soria with a low shot after the Brazilian beat the Getafe defense with speed.

Moments later, the visitors broke the deadlock. Lucas Vázquez, on the right-hand side, whipped in a perfect cross, which Joselu headed down past Soria for the opening goal.

Getafe had only conceded a league-low six goals at home before this fixture, but Real Madrid are a unique opponent, and Vázquez was troublesome, and he again combined with Joselu, but Joselu’s strike was blocked. 

In the second half, the Azulones got into the game better, and Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood orchestrated Getafe’s best efforts but with no goal to show for it until Ancelotti’s men, through Vinícius, took advantage of Farland Mendy’s marauding run to clinch a second goal.

Ferland Mendy took a run and slipped the ball through Joselu, who fired back across goal for his and Real Madrid’s second. Vinicius could have made it three, but Soria denied him one-on-one.

The win was comfortable for the visitors, who got are now eighth league away game unbeaten. For Getafe, outside chances of European football for the first time since 2019/20 are beginning to look slim.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu