Getafe 1 - 5 Real Madrid: Real Madrid sink Getafe to boost title hopes

Posted Sunday, April 17, 2016 by PA

Real Madrid boosted their hopes of catching Primera Division leaders Barcelona by thrashing struggling Getafe 5-1 thanks to goals by forwards Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale and midfield pair Isco and James Rodriguez.

Benzema put a superior Madrid in charge just before the half hour make and then laid on the pass for Isco to consolidate the advantage before half-time.

Bale netted a milestone 16th league goal of the season five minutes after the break, surpassing his previous best goals tally in the league from 2013-14, and James and Ronaldo further punished Getafe in the final minutes after Pablo Sarabia had pulled one back for the hosts.

Hapless Getafe sank to the bottom of the table after the defeat, the first game in charge for new coach Juan Esnaider, who replaced sacked Fran Escriba last week, while Madrid collected a seventh straight league win to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of the table and fellow title contenders Atletico.

There were three changes to the starting line-up from the side that beat Wolfsburg 3-0 to advance to the Champions League semi-finals and set up a tie with Manchester City, coach Zinedine Zidane resting Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.

Although the Frenchman talked before the game about the difficulties Getafe would cause his side, he picked a highly attacking team, Isco and James playing alongside Toni Kroos in midfield, behind the usual front three.

Ronaldo threatened to give Madrid the lead as early as the 16th minute when striking the woodwork but it was Benzema who put the visitors on their way, meeting James' cross at the far post to score a career best 22nd goal of the league campaign.

Benzema again proved his confidence has been unaffected by being left out of the France Euro 2016 squad by playing a one-two with Isco as the Spaniard added the second on 40 minutes.

Bale grabbed the third early in the second half, cutting in from the right to plant the ball into the far bottom corner with his left foot.

Sarabia's 22-yard strike gave Getafe a brief moment to celebrate, but they were soon picking the ball out of their net again.

First James danced his way past defenders in the area to score from close range in the 87th minute.

Then substitute Jese presented Ronaldo with the simplest of chances to get on the scoresheet, and this time the post could not deny the prolific Portuguese as he scored his fifth goal in three games.