LaLiga: Joselu strike twice against Getafe as Real Madrid stroll into first place

Joselu struck twice as Real Madrid strolled into first place in La Liga with a comfortable 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are two points clear of shock title challengers Girona after a catch-up fixture which means both sides have played 22 matches. Striker Joselu, on loan from Espanyol, headed Madrid in front in the first half and finished lethally early in the second to put his team in command against their mid-table opposition. The Spanish Super Cup champions created various other chances but could not widen the scoreline in the derby clash a few kilometres south of the Spanish capital. Madrid lead rivals Atletico Madrid, third, and Barcelona, fourth, by 10 points. They face Diego Simeone’s Atletico on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu. “(Joselu) is doing everything he needs to stay here, he’s doing spectacularly,” said Ancelotti. “It’s a blessing to have a player with this quality – he’s a very humble, serious person, we’re all delighted with him.” Madrid’s coach said the team is in good shape ahead of the business end of the season. “The team is motivated, fighting, we managed this game well, which was not easy,” he added. Joselu and Vinicius Junior threatened in the opening stages before Madrid took the lead. Lucas Vazquez, starting at right-back to give Dani Carvajal a rest, swung over a cross which Spain international Joselu nodded home while easily holding off his marker. The target man started in place of Rodrygo as Ancelotti shuffled his pack ahead of the Madrid derby. Rudiger forced off  Real Madrid controlled the rest of the first half, but were set back before the break when defender Antonio Rudiger limped off. Eduardo Camavinga came on in the second half, with Aurelien Tchouameni dropping to centre-back. “Rudiger, I think he can recover (to face Atletico), he got a knock – we’ll see in the coming days,” said Ancelotti. Madrid stayed on the front foot and soon found their second goal. Joselu finished off a smooth team move from just inside the area from an incisive pass by Vinicius. Los Blancos should have made it three when Joselu ran in on goal, but, instead of completing a hat-trick, unselfishly passed to Vinicius, whose effort was saved by David Soria. The Brazilian then missed another clear chance as he zipped in on goal and tried to lob Soria, who saved with his chest. Madrid were nearly made to rue the wasted openings but Andriy Lunin tipped Borja Mayoral’s shot on to the post. The Getafe striker and Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham are tied on 14 goals along with Girona’s Artem Dovbyk as the division’s top scorers. “Madrid are the most in form team in the league, with Girona, and it was a very tough game,” said Getafe coach Jose Bordalas. “It was a shame to let in such an early goal, it did us a lot of damage. “The team didn’t give up on the game but if you don’t put away the few chances that you have, it’s much harder.” Madrid were dealt a blow late on when Tchouameni was booked for a foul, meaning he will miss the clash with Atletico through suspension.