Real Madrid edged past Getafe with a scrappy 1-0 win at the Estadio Coliseum on Sunday night to move back on top of LaLiga. It wasn't their prettiest performance of the season, much to the disappointment of Xabi Alonso, who boasted his players were ready for the game , but it was another classic case of champions doing just enough, and once again, it was Kylian Mbappe who delivered the decisive moment.
The Madrid derby, already charged with emotion, kicked off in an unusual atmosphere. Both teams stood still for 15 seconds before the whistle, Softfootball understands that this was a show of unity in protest against La Liga's proposed Miami fixture. The silence was brief, though, before the game quickly turned tense and physical, with both sides fighting for every inch.
For much of the evening, Getafe stayed compact, frustrating Madrid's usual rhythm. Mastantuono and Rodrygo tried to stretch play, while Jude Bellingham kept probing through midfield, but clear chances were few. It took a wild twist and a flash of chaos for the match to truly open up.