Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo warmed up for Tottenham on Tuesday by scoring the goals that set Real Madrid on their way to a 2-1 win over Getafe.
The French forward has been out for a month but he was back in the old routine on 39 minutes latching on to a deflected Ronaldo pass. Ronaldo scored the winner with four minutes left after Getafe had equalised through a goal from Jorge Molina.
Ronaldo was mobbed by a lookalike pitch invader in the first half. When he missed from a yard out in the second period it looked as if the unwanted attention and the weight of not having scored in the league this season was taking its toll, but he delivered in time to give Madrid the points.
Benzema put Madrid in front after Getafe’s Faycal Fajr intercepted Ronaldo’s square pass and inadvertently put the French forward through. Getafe central defender Cala flew into a challenge but Benzema burst past him before the contact arrived and then finished into the far corner.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane had rested five players who are likely to start on Tuesday but with Isco and Luka Modric on the bench and Raphael Varane, Keylor Navas and Casemiro all sidelined they dominated their local neighbours in the first half. Gareth Bale also missed this one as Madrid looked to close the gap on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who face each other on Saturday evening.
Ronaldo had the chance to break his league scoring duck 10 minutes in when Marcelo’s ball into the box was brought down by Benzema who shielded it and juggled before cushioning it off. The assist was perfect for Ronaldo but his shot was well saved by Vicente Guaita.
Madrid were having trouble breaking Getafe down and on 23 minutes it looked as if they were playing with 12 men. A pitch invader dressed in full-kit jogged on and for a while seemed to go unnoticed as he made his way across to Ronaldo. Unchallenged he made it to his hero and there was a timid embrace before finally security reacted with one steward ambling on to shepherd the imposter away.
Back down to 11 men Real Madrid continued to make most of the running and Ronaldo had another shot saved by Guaita. Ronaldo then turned provider with a delicate flick that played in Benzema but the Frenchman fired over. The pair were playing together for the first time since the Champions League final and there were signs they were starting to click as the first half came to a close. With five minutes left the latter broke the deadlock.
Getafe had defended well and broken forward when possible. Senegalese winger Amath Ndiaye had one run and shot which forced a corner for Getafe but they had failed to get to half time on level terms. They changed that 11 minutes into the second period.
Fajr made amends for his earlier mistake by running in behind Marcelo to cross dangerously from the right. Jorge Molina was the Getafe forward trying to convert in the six-yard box but both Marcos Llorente and Nacho got there first and Llorente seemed to get the last touch as the ball went past Kiko Casilla to make it 1-1.
Ronaldo then shot wide from a yard out as a free-kick dropped to him in the area. It would have been easier to score and he must have feared another 90 minutes with a goal. But substitute Isco crossed from the left and went it sat up for him Ronaldo dispatched it to give Real Madrid the points.
