Madrid, April 10 (BNA): Real Madrid took one step closer to the La Liga title after beating its former rival Getafe 2-0 thanks to goals from Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez.
And with seven matches remaining at the end of the season, Real consolidated its lead at the top of the standings to 12 points, ahead of Seville, 15 points behind Barcelona, which has two games in hand, and faces second-placed Levante on Sunday.
Casemiro opened the scoring after 38 minutes, diving to head off a superb cross from Vinicius Junior.
The young Brazilian winger has once again played a key role at Real Madrid, as he was a constant threat to the Getafe defense that created most of his team’s chances from the left flank, Reuters reported.
Real took control and consolidated their lead in the second half, as Vazquez calmly finished off a precise cross after a superb exchange of passes with Rodrygo.
Getafe, who are four points from the relegation zone and have won only twice in their last eight league matches, have not had any shots on target.
“It wasn’t easy, we made it look easy,” Real Madrid captain Marcelo told Movistar Plus.
The experienced defender was one of several squad players who started as coach Carlo Ancelotti on his side’s tour ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea on Tuesday.
“We ran a lot and played hard to the end,” said Marcelo.
“Everyone in the dressing room needs to feel important, it was good to see some of us not having many minutes to enjoy themselves in front of our fans. We all have to be ready if necessary at the end of the season.”
One player who didn’t get a warm welcome was Welsh striker Gareth Bale, who came off the bench in the 74th minute to loud boos from Real Madrid fans on his first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu in more than two years.
“It’s tough, it’s happened to a lot of players at this club,” Marcelo said.
“The fans have to understand that we are all important. We are at the end of the season, we have a lot at stake, we have to help each other, our teammates. We are with him.”