Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scored their first Liga goals of the season as Real Madrid narrowly beat Getafe 2-1 on Saturday.
The pair of attackers started up front in a 4-4-2 formation for the visitors, who were pegged back in the second half by Jorge Molina’s controversial equaliser.
The first chance of the game fell to Getafe as Faycal Fajr’s effort from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Casilla.
Alvaro Jimenez, who played under Zinedine Zidane – coaching Los Blancos for the 100th time – for Madrid Castilla, was forced off in tears in just the 12th minute as he couldn’t recover from a clattering Sergio Ramos challenge.
The home side’s best chance of the first half arrived when former Real Betis striker Molina headed over when well placed after Casilla was caught in no-man’s land.
Midway through the half a pitch invader, in full Blancos kit, was allowed to run onto the pitch and quickly talk to Cristiano Ronaldo, before eventually being led away by security.
The Portuguese then had a strong shot stopped by Vicente Guaita, before Benzema blasted over the bar after a delightful flick from his superstar teammate.
Madrid eventually took the lead five minutes before the break following a fine solo effort from the Frenchman – who twice intercepted loose Getafe balls, before charging through and producing a cool finish across Guaita.
The Azulones goalkeeper was on fine form, and nine minutes after the break he was called into action for an impressive double stop, first denying Ronaldo, before stopping Marcelo’s curling effort.
The hosts were level 11 minutes into the second in contentious circumstances – Molina bundling home with a trickled finish from Fajr’s cross from what looked to be an offside position.
Madrid attempted to hit back and Ronaldo sensationally missed from two yards out after Sergio Ramos had headed a free-kick back across the unmarked star, only for him to inexplicably nudge his effort wide.
Two minutes later and substitute Theo Hernandez had the ball in the net, but it was correctly adjudged offside.
Mauro Arambarri spurned a chance for Geta with 11 minutes remaining, failing to find the target from the edge of the box.
However, with four minutes remaining, Los Merengues found the winner thanks to Ronaldo’s first League goal of the campaign, coolly finishing past Guaita after a lobbed assist from Isco.
Mehdi Lacen, a second-half substitute, saw an injury-time effort fly inches wide as Madrid soared into second place with a third straight win.
Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
Molina 56 (G) Benzema 39, Ronaldo 85 (RM)
Getafe: Guaita, Djene, Antunes, Bergara, Alvaro (Portillo 15), Cala, Arambarri (Bruno 84), Fajr, Damian, Amath (Lacen 68), Molina
Real Madrid: Casilla; Achraf, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo (Theo 72); Vazquez (Isco 72), Marcos Llorente, Kroos, Asensio; Benzema (Mayoral 81), Ronaldo
Referee: Martinez Munuera
