Joselu bags brace as Real Madrid brush aside Getafe to move atop LaLiga
The on-loan striker was in fine form.
Real Madrid have gone two points clear at the top of LaLiga EASPORTS after Joselu's brace guided them to a 2-0 win over Getafe on Thursday.
Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest stars such as Rodrygo and Toni Kroos, but the Italian was able to welcome back 18-goal starlet Jude Bellingham back into the starting XI following his suspension.
But it was another summer signing, Joselu, who proved to be the deadly finisher on the night.
Rewarded by with only his ninth league start of the season, the 33-year-old put the visitors in front after 14 minutes to silence the lively home crowd at Estadio Coliseum.
After a sublime 22-pass move, the Spain international met Lucas Vazquez's inviting cross with a towering header to register his sixth goal in LaLiga EASPORTS and 11th in all competitions.
The pair nearly combined again later in the half, this time with Vazquez providing a neat cutback, but goalkeeper David Soria was able to pull off a stop to deny Joselu a second.
There were few chances to speak of after that, with Real Madrid's rearguard action proving to be effective as Getafe failed to muster a single shot in the first half.
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas responded with a triple change at the break, while Antonio Rudiger was forced off with a thigh problem and replaced by Eduardo Camavinga. And it didn't take long for the hosts to spring into action.
Getafe finally had their first effort on goal when Mason Greenwood, on loan from Manchester United, saw his drilled effort crash against the woodwork with Andriy Lunin well beaten.
And that missed opportunity proved to be crucial when only four minutes later, Joselu picked his spot with a precise low effort into the bottom corner to double his tally.
He could have had a hat-trick after being sent through on goal by Bellingham before squaring it unselfishly to Vinicius, who saw his effort saved by Soria.
Getafe were then left to rue further missed chances through Nemanja Maksimovic and the former Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral, who also hit the post. With no threat of a late comeback, Real Madrid extended their winning streak to six games as well as going 16 games without defeat.
The result will no doubt delight Ancelotti, who can look forward to the Madrid derby clash against Atletico Madrid on Sunday with a number of his key players fresh for the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.