Real Madrid: player ratings as Getafe beaten 3-0 in LaLiga
Real Madrid earned three hard-fought points at Getafe, thanks to a David Soria own goal and strikes by Raphaël Varane and Luka Modric.
Thibaut Courtois:
If he keeps playing like this, Courtois might just satisfy his aspirations of reclaiming the Zamora Award, given to the LaLiga goalkeeper who concedes the fewest over the course of the season. He made three top stops in the first half alone - to deny Mauro Arambarri, Fayçal Fajr and Leandro Cabrera - and has now kept three straight clean sheets in the league, including one at the Camp Nou. Overall, he now has eight in 15 in the top flight this term; that's more than one in two.
Dani Carvajal:
Carvajal did very well to keep Marc Cucurella relatively quiet and sought to help out his side in attack, too, albeit he didn't manage to provide a great deal of penetration.
Raphaël Varane:
Varane made an iffy start with ball at feet, but was always able to use his pace to make up for that. Generally very well placed to clear Getafe's incessant aerial balls into the box, Varane forced the David Soria error that brought about Madrid's opener - a goal initially awarded to the Frenchman - and, early in the second half, powered in a header to double the visitors' lead.
Éder Militão:
It wasn't an easy afternoon at all for Militão, who is being very slowly brought into the team by head coach Zinedine Zidane. However, the Brazilian came through it well and it is an experience that will stand him in good stead. He also showed his ability on the ball, providing a fine long pass to give Gareth Bale a great chance to score Madrid's third.
Ferland Mendy:
Mendy gets up and down the left flank tirelessly. A strong physical presence, he was quick into the tackle and played a crucial role in Real Madrid's opener, delivering the cross - with his right, it must be noted - that led to Soria's own goal.
Luka Modric:
Modric's ability to take care of the ball was key to Madrid's efforts to beat the press of a Getafe side who chase down their opponents as if their lives depended on it. The Croat rounded off the win by tapping home in time added on.
Casemiro:
After opening with a lovely threaded pass to Bale that the forward couldn't make the most of, Casemiro rolled his sleeves up and was right at home in what was a ferocious battle. Given Getafe's up-and-at-'em style, it was always going to be a game for the Brazilian.
Toni Kroos:
Kroos grew into the game, celebrating his 30th birthday by laying on a gorgeous free-kick delivery for Varane to nod in Madrid's second goal. When the German is standing over a dead ball, it always spells danger for the opposition. He was able to express himself more freely in the second half and, in defence, was there to clear a threatening ball by Jorge Molina in the penalty box.
Gareth Bale:
Things might have been different for Bale had he made sharper use of a fine early through ball by Casemiro. Unable to capitalise on that opening, he then packed a similarly ineffective punch when presented with one-on-one chances in the second half, failing to beat Soria on both occasions. However, the Welshman did provide a wonderful pass to release Fede Valverde in the build-up to the third goal.
Karim Benzema:
Benzema now catches the eye even in his less productive performances. He never stopped looking for the ball and holding it up outside the Getafe box, but lacked service. He might have got himself on the scoresheet just before the break, though, when Soria kept out his effort after a wonderful bit of centre-forward play.
Isco:
Isco's influence waned, but his performance certainly did not lack personality. Despite swimming in shark-infested waters, he was always available to receive the ball. More than anything else, though, this was a test of physical endurance.
Substitutes:
Fede Valverde:
Madrid had missed Valverde, who brought the grit and determination that the team needed to make sure they saw the game out in the final minutes. Threaded through the pass that created Bale's second one-on-one, before his stoppage-time drive forward saw him set up Modric to net the visitors' third.
Vinicius Júnior:
Brought his usual direct running - although, given the pattern of play in the closing stages, not as much as he would have liked - but missed a golden scoring chance in the 89th minute. With Getafe refusing to give up, the Brazilian was also diligent in helping out in defence.
Luka Jovic:
Introduced for the final 10 minutes to give Benzema a breather. Picked up a yellow card pretty much straight after coming onto the field, for a late challenge on Damián Suárez.