Getafe vs. Real Madrid: Winners and Losers from Liga Game
Real Madrid retained their spot at the top of the Liga table by beating Getafe, 3-0, at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday.
The Azulones were stubborn throughout and proved difficult to break down, but Cristiano Ronaldo eventually found a way through via the help of the excellent Karim Benzema. Gareth Bale added a second soon after, and Ronaldo sealed the three points with a header in the closing stages.
Here B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Karim Benzema, Who Was Man of the Match
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Karim Benzema was Man of the Match on Sunday, showcasing his brilliant playmaking abilities in full. He was the key reason why Real Madrid eventually broke the deadlock.
He produced two eye-catching runs along the byline to get around Getafe's low block—one ending in a blocked shot from Isco, the other ending in the breakthrough tap-in from Cristiano Ronaldo—and showed an ability to diligently drop and run into space throughout.
The Frenchman is as classy as it gets in that centre-forward role and still stands as an integral part of this side.
Loser: Sammir, Who Squandered Many Counter-Attacking Chances
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Getafe played almost exclusively on the counter-attack on Sunday, preferring to sit with numbers deep and fly forward with two or three when possible. To play like that, you need decisiveness in transitions and a clinical nature up top; in Sammir, Pablo Sarabia and Alvaro Vazquez, the Azulones had neither.
Even taking into account the gap in quality, Sammir in particular struggled in transitions and wasted several good opportunities. Sarabia's finishing was awful, but the problems stemmed from deeper, and Sammir should have been more reliable in carrying the ball forward.
Winner: Isco, Who Impressed Once Again
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Competition for places in Real Madrid's midfield is tough, but Isco continues to play superbly despite the pressure and the challenge from world-class stars on the bench.
Asier Illarramendi and Sami Khedira can barely get a kick due to the presence of Isco, whose quick feet, ability to create space for himself and high-risk (positive) passing are key to playing teams who sit back.
The Spaniard came off for the final 12 minutes for a well-deserved breather.
Loser: Home Fans at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez
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Getafe have only picked up nine points at home this season and treated their fans to just five goals. The home fans' frustration was easy to hear, as they booed every time Real Madrid pierced the net.
Alvaro Vazquez missed two excellent chances, skying an early chance before hitting the post late on from five yards, and a strong shout for a penalty late on was denied by referee Pedro Jesus Perez Montero.
Winner: James Rodriguez, Whose Deliveries Were Sublime
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James Rodriguez constantly fights the pressure of expectation due to his incredible performances at the FIFA World Cup 2014, so when he produces a sublime performance in La Liga, he should be rewarded with praise.
He produced a series of cutting balls, mazy dribbles and brilliant crosses at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday, grabbing two assists in the second half. He was second only to Karim Benzema in performance levels—despite Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing a brace.
We saw James powering forward centrally but also some fine deliveries from the wing.
