Real Madrid Edges Past Getafe to Reclaim Top Spot Ahead of El Clásico

Real Madrid had to work harder than expected on their visit to Getafe but came away with a narrow 1–0 victory, enough to reclaim the top of the LaLiga table and head into next Sunday’s El Clásico against Barcelona as league leaders.

Once again, Kylian Mbappé played the role of hero for Los Blancos, scoring the decisive goal 10 minutes from time in a tense match that saw the home side finish with two players sent off.

Keys to Victory

Even without their best performance, Real Madrid proved that champions find ways to win. Individual brilliance made the difference — Mbappé sealed the victory with his clinical finish, while Vinícius Júnior and Arda Güler, coming off the bench, also had a decisive impact.

Controversial Moments

Early in the match, Aurélien Tchouaméni appeared to trip Adrián Liso inside the box in what looked like a clear penalty. However, the referee waved play on, and VAR did not intervene.
Later, Allan Nyom’s red card stirred further controversy — the Getafe player entered the match in the 76th minute and was sent off just one minute later for a late challenge on Vinícius. The decision was seen as overly harsh, and, ironically, Real Madrid scored immediately after the dismissal.

The Hero Once Again

Mbappé continues to prove his worth as one of the most decisive players in the world. Though quiet for stretches of the match, it took just one opportunity to make the difference. In the 80th minute, he received a perfect assist from Güler and slotted home the winner that secured the three points for Madrid.

Starting Lineups

Getafe: David Soria; Iglesias, Domingos, Djené, Rico; Milla, Martín, Arambarri; Kiko, Álex, Liso.
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Valverde, Militão, Alaba, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappé, Rodrygo.

What’s Next

• Getafe: travels to face Athletic Club on Saturday, October 25, for Matchday 10 of LaLiga.

• Real Madrid: faces a challenging week — hosting Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League and then Barcelona at home on Sunday in the first El Clásico of the season.

Standings

With the victory, Real Madrid climbs back to the top of the table with 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona, their next rival.
Getafe remains in 12th place with 11 points.