Kylian Mbappe extended his remarkable scoring streak to 11 consecutive games as Real Madrid reclaimed top spot in La Liga with a hard-fought 1-0 win over nine-man Getafe on Sunday.
After Barcelona briefly leapfrogged their rivals with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday, Madrid responded to restore their two-point advantage, just days before next weekend’s El Clasico showdown.
Mbappe, back in the starting lineup after recovering from an ankle injury, settled the contest in the 80th minute shortly after Getafe’s Allan Nyom was sent off. The French star calmly slotted home off the post for his 10th league goal of the season and 29th overall, keeping him top of both the La Liga and Champions League scoring charts.
Getafe’s implosion continued when Alex Sancris saw red late on for another reckless foul on substitute Vinicius Junior.
Manager Xabi Alonso opted to rest Vinicius at the start, with a midweek Champions League clash against Juventus and the Clasico looming. But the Brazilian proved decisive off the bench, drawing both red cards with his pace and trickery.
“Vini had a great impact… We told him this morning he could be key,” Alonso said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we did what we had to do.”
Mbappe, leading the line at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, had two early chances but couldn’t convert. Getafe gradually settled and managed to frustrate Madrid, who lacked sharpness in the final third.
Goalkeeper David Soria made key saves from Rodrygo Goes and David Alaba, while Fede Valverde also went close before the break.
Vinicius entered early in the second half, immediately adding urgency. Jude Bellingham pulled the strings in midfield and nearly set up Mbappe, who fired wide, then curled a free-kick just inches off target.
The turning point came in the 79th minute when Nyom, on the pitch for less than a minute, inexplicably elbowed Vinicius off the ball and was shown a straight red card.
Within moments, Madrid struck. Arda Guler slipped a perfectly weighted pass to Mbappe, who timed his run to stay just onside, turned smoothly, and fired past Soria with his left foot.
Getafe’s discipline unravelled further as Sancris earned a second yellow for another foul on Vinicius, reducing the hosts to nine men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Getafe nearly snatched a late equaliser when Abu Kamara broke through in stoppage time, only to be denied by Thibaut Courtois’s sharp save.
“We should not give away a chance like that, but Thibaut did his job,” Alonso noted.
Getafe manager José Bordalás was less pleased, questioning Nyom’s dismissal: “For me, it’s not a red — maybe a yellow. But that decision changed the game.”
Elsewhere in La Liga, Elche continued their strong return to the top flight with a 0-0 draw against Athletic Bilbao, sitting seventh — one place above the Basques. Rayo Vallecano moved into 10th after a convincing 3-0 win at Levante. Real Sociedad, struggling near the bottom, salvaged a 1-1 draw at 10-man Celta Vigo thanks to a late equaliser.
AFP
