Real Madrid reclaim top spot in La Liga after Joselu double sinks Getafe

Real Madrid regained the Spanish league lead with a comfortable 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday in a match rescheduled because of the Spanish Super Cup.

Joselu scored a goal in each half to move Madrid two points clear of Girona at the top of the table.

It was the sixth straight league victory for Madrid. They play Atlético again in the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.

Joselu opened the scoring against Getafe with a header in the 14th minute after a well-placed cross by Lucas Vázquez from the right. The 33-year-old doubled the lead with a low shot from inside the area in the 56th minute. Vinícius Júnior missed two clear chances in one-on-one situations in the second half while Getafe hit the woodwork as they tried to get back into the game.

The Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger did not return for the second half after he was injured before the break. Carlo Ancelotti had few defensive options because of injuries and had to improvise with the midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as a central defender alongside Nacho Fernández.

Real moved to 57 points, two ahead of Girona who visit the Bernabéu in nine’ days time. But Ancelotti refused to engage with talk of a title showdown.

“If we win the next two games we will have six more points and that will be good,” Ancelotti said. “Let’s hope we can count on Rüdiger [for Sunday’s derby], I think he can recover. We have two days to try to get him back, it’s a strong blow to the thigh.”