MADRID (AP) — 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 Mato scored a goal in each half to put Madrid two points ahead of Verona at the top.
It was the sixth consecutive league win for Madrid, which is unbeaten in 25 matches in all competitions since a 3–1 league defeat at Atlético Madrid in September.
Madrid are 10 points ahead of both Atletico and defending champions Barcelona. Atletico beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Wednesday, while Barcelona beat Osasuna 1-0. Both matches were postponed due to the Spanish Super Cup won by Madrid in Saudi Arabia last month.
Madrid defeated Atlético in the Super Cup semi-finals before defeating Barcelona in the final. Atlético subsequently eliminated Madrid in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Atletico will play Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Sunday.
Madrid opened the scoring against Getafe in the 14th minute with a header by Joselu after a well-placed cross by Lucas Vazquez from the right side. Joselu doubled the lead in the 56th with a low shot from inside the area.
Vinicius Junior missed some clear chances in one-on-one situations in the second half. Getafe found the woodwork once while trailing 2-0.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have won 20 games during their 25-match unbeaten run.
“It was a great match for us,” said Ancelotti, who rotated some of his players ahead of Sunday’s derby. “We are enjoying good performances and the team is motivated. We played well from start to finish, now we are preparing for the derby.”
Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger did not return for the second half after suffering a serious hamstring injury before the break.
Ancelotti had few defensive options due to injuries and had to improvise with midfielder Aurelien Tchoumeni replacing Nacho Fernández as the central defender.
Ancelotti was shown a yellow card after the final whistle for complaining about a late penalty kick which was not called.
Getafe were coming off a win in Granada after three consecutive league matches without a win. The club from southern Madrid finished in 10th place.
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