Copa Del Rey: The quarter-finals will be played between February 4-6.© AFP

LaLiga: Barcelona face a trip to take on Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday.© AFP

Spanish champions Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 to move second in La Liga on Sunday with Kylian Mbappe finding the net after a difficult week, but also missing other presentable chances. The French striker has been criticised for his form of late, but after Jude Bellingham opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Mbappe slotted home a well-taken second. Mbappe wasted three other clear opportunities but Madrid were able to climb within one point of league leaders Barcelona, who lost on Saturday at home against Las Palmas.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois compared the striker to a bottle struggling to disperse its contents.

“I’m sure he will end up scoring a lot more goals, sometimes it’s like a bottle that’s a bit blocked… when it all starts coming out at once, I think a lot more goals will follow,” said Courtois.

“That some (chances) didn’t go in is a shame for him… but his goal in the first half is incredible, with that position to get a shot on goal and put it away like that is very hard.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have played one fewer game than the Catalans, and Atletico Madrid, third, who are one point behind.

“(Mbappe) played very well, he was active, dangerous as always,” said Ancelotti.

“He scored an important goal, he created chances in the second half and had a very active game, it’s what we want from him.”

Mbappe, playing in his favoured role on the left with Vinicius Junior out injured, was offered plenty of support by Madrid’s fans. 

“The fans understand more than anyone what moment the team is in, and the players (are in),” added Ancelotti.

Getafe set out to slow the game down and they largely succeeded until Allan Nyom tugged down Antonio Rudiger in the area after half an hour.

After Mbappe missed his penalty against Liverpool in the Champions League defeat at Anfield on Wednesday, Bellingham stepped up to take the spot-kick.

The England international outfoxed David Soria to send Madrid ahead on the half-hour with his third goal in three league games.

“Today Bellingham or Mbappe had to choose (who took the penalty), they both chose Bellingham,” said Ancelotti.

Mbappe doubled his team’s lead with a superb strike seven minutes prior to the break, after Bellingham spread the ball out to him on the left flank. 

The France captain drove inside and curled home a low effort inside the far post for his eighth league goal of the season. 

Ancelotti took off Bellingham at half-time because of an apparent knock sustained in a collision with Soria, but later said he thought the midfielder would recover quickly.

‘Good attitude again’

Mbappe produced a glorious chipped pass to put Brahim Diaz in behind early in the second period, but the Morocco international’s effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

The forward came millimetres away from scoring a second himself but after rounding Soria squeezed a shot just wide of the far post.

John Patrick and Chrisantus Uche hit the woodwork for Getafe, who could not find a way through.

Mbappe spurned two other fine chances as his anxiety to prove his worth in a Madrid shirt following his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain continued to tell, despite his goal.

Madrid face Athletic Bilbao in midweek, hoping to build on their run of three consecutive La Liga wins.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries (but) we are there fighting, battling,” said Ancelotti. 

“What gives me the most confidence is that we had a good attitude again, concentration, we had spirit.

“Bit by bit the problems we’ve had, we will solve, and in the meanwhile we will be there fighting.”

Athletic Bilbao climbed to fourth after Oihan Sancet hit a second-half brace to help the Basques come from behind and beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1.

Randy Nteka sent the hosts ahead in the first half with a fine clipped finish and goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made a string of good saves.

However, Ernesto Valverde’s side found their way back thanks to substitute Sancet’s double.

Villarreal, fifth and level on points with Bilbao, were held to a 2-2 draw by Girona earlier in the day.

Real Madrid vs Getafe Live Streaming LaLiga Live Telecast: Real Madrid look to pounce on Barcelona’s slip-up as they host relegation-threatened Getafe at the Bernabeu on Sunday. With Barcelona slumping to a 1-2 loss at home to Las Palmas on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s men could trim the gap to just one point with a game in hand. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham both start despite concerns over their fitness following the loss to Liverpool midweek in the UEFA Champions League. Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticised for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.

With Vinicius Jr out for three weeks, Real Madrid will look for inspiration from Mbappe. Getafe, on the other hand, sit just outside the drop zone, tied on 13 points with 18th placed Espanyol. Rodrygo is also back in the starting XI after missing the last few weeks due to an injury.

When will the Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match take place?

The Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match will take place on Sunday, November 31 (IST).

Where will the Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match be held?

The Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match will be held at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain.

What time will the Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match start?

The Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match will start at 8:45 PM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match?

The Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match will not be televised in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match?

The Real Madrid vs Getafe, La Liga 2024-25 football match will be live streamed on the GXR World app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

La Liga leaders Barcelona have been in sensational goalscoring form this season and visit Real Sociedad on Sunday in La Liga high on confidence. The Catalans have netted 55 times in 16 matches across all competitions and have scored three times or more in each of their last seven outings. Basque side La Real have historically proven difficult for Barcelona to overcome in San Sebastian but Hansi Flick’s side have swept aside any team to cross their path since September. Barcelona suffered their only league defeat six weeks ago at Osasuna and since then have thrashed Spanish and European champions Real Madrid 4-0, as well as beating Bayern Munich 4-1 in Europe.

“The results speak their own language and it’s really good to see that,” said Flick, with his team nine points clear of Madrid at the top of La Liga.

One of the key factors in Barcelona’s form has been the resurgence of veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski under his former Bayern Munich coach Flick.

After struggling for form at times last season the 36-year-old has been nigh-on unstoppable this season.

Lewandowski reached 19 goals in 16 games for the season with a brace on Wednesday as Barcelona strolled to a 5-2 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade.

“Since the beginning of this season we have a goal — we have to play very attacking football… we score a lot of goals,” said Lewandowski afterwards.

“The defensive line also plays very well, everything works so far almost perfectly…

“We have many games until the end of the season, no matter if it’s La Liga or Champions League, we have to always look at what we can do better and what we improve too, no matter how many goals we have scored today. The next game is a new game and a new chance to win.”

Lewandowski has found the net 14 times in La Liga and is the division’s top scorer, with double the tally of any other player.

The forward has superb support from Raphinha and teenage Spain star Lamine Yamal, with the trio shredding opponents on a regular basis.

Barcelona’s summer signing Dani Olmo is also likely to start as he continues his comeback from injury.

The playmaker netted twice in the derby win over Espanyol last weekend and has five goals in five La Liga games since his arrival.

Real Sociedad are down in 11th in La Liga but Imanol Alguacil’s side are improving as the weeks tick by after a slow start.

The coach suggested his team’s results would improve after some poor finishing cost them points earlier in the campaign.

Real Sociedad have scored 10 league goals, in stark contrast to Barcelona’s 40.

“I always say that in order to score goals you have to be superior to your opponent and create chances,” said Alguacil after his team beat Sevilla last weekend.

“It’s true that up until now we weren’t performing very well… but what’s important is to create chances, and the team is doing that.”

Second-placed Real Madrid are in action on Saturday against Osasuna, looking to cut Barcelona’s advantage back to six points.

Player to watch: Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid need to bounce back after two consecutive home defeats and Mbappe in particular will be hoping to silence the critics by finding the net against Osasuna. The striker has one goal in his last six games for Los Blancos and is still working on his partnership with Madrid star Vinicius Junior.

Key stats

2 – Outfielders to play every minute of the opening 12 rounds, Real Betis’s Diego Llorente and Mallorca’s Antonio Raillo

9 – goals Real Madrid have conceded in their last three home matches across all competitions

42 – Raphinha has made the most chances of any player across the five big European leagues

Fixtures

Friday (all times GMT)

Rayo Vallecano v Las Palmas (2000)

Saturday

Real Madrid v Osasuna (1300), Villarreal v Alaves (1515), Leganes v Sevilla (2000)

Sunday

Real Betis v Celta Vigo (1300), Mallorca v Atletico Madrid (1515), Getafe v Girona (1730), Valladolid v Athletic Bilbao (1730), Real Sociedad v Barcelona (2000)

Note: Espanyol v Valencia postponed after heavy flooding in eastern Spain

Robert Lewandowski continued his fine form and earned La Liga leaders Barcelona a 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday. The Polish forward struck from close range in the first half to maintain Barca’s 100 percent record in the league so far this season with their seventh victory. Barcelona dominated despite not being able to add to their lead and restored a four-point advantage on Real Madrid, who beat Alaves on Tuesday.

“You can’t always win by a lot of goals,” defender Jules Kounde told Movistar.

“I think the important thing is we made a lot of chances again and took the three points… Getafe is always a tough team to handle.”

Coach Hansi Flick started Inaki Pena in goal for the stricken Marc-Andre ter Stegen, out for months with a severe knee injury, and brought Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde back into the side.

The reserve goalkeeper, who conceded 32 times in 17 matches across all competitions last season, heard his name chanted supportively by fans behind his goal and saved an early header from Carles Perez.

By contrast his opposite number David Soria’s weak touch on Kounde’s cross led to Barcelona’s opener on 19 minutes, the ball falling perfectly for Lewandowski to finish from close range.

The 36-year-old striker has seven goals in La Liga this season and leads the scoring charts, seemingly rejuvenated under Flick after struggling at times last season.

“For me he’s the best number nine of the last 10 years,” Flick, who also coached him at Bayern Munich, told reporters.

“His job is in front of the goal, in the box, and he’s doing that great.”

Teen starlet Lamine Yamal might have doubled the lead moments later when Raphinha played him in, but he nudged inches past the post.

Soria made a good save from Raphinha, who collected the August player of the month award before kick-off, and soon sent another effort skidding wide.

Yamal almost bent home a delicious curling strike from distance before the hour, but Soria tipped it over the crossbar.

The Getafe goalkeeper also palmed a dangerous Raphinha free-kick around the post as Barcelona pushed for a second to put the match to bed.

Spain’s Euro 2024 hero Yamal clipped the top of the crossbar with a vicious effort from distance, as Barca started to grumble about Getafe’s persistently heavy challenges.

Raphinha missed a golden chance in the final stages, heading wide after a clever dart into the box but Barcelona were not punished for their profligacy.

Late scare

Getafe, 19th, are still winless and wasted a fine chance of their own at the death when Borja Mayoral failed to get a shot away when well placed and free inside the box.

“We didn’t put away our chances… we have to be more decisive in the area,” said Getafe midfielder Luis Milla.

The Madrid club have found the net on just three occasions so far this season.

“It’s clear we have to improve there, I’m sure the team will end up scoring,” added Milla.

The leaders next travel to face Osasuna on Saturday, before second-placed Real Madrid face rivals Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday.

Even with various star names out injured, Flick’s side have continued to improve since he arrived.

“He’s a coach who is very sure how he wants to play (and) we’re understanding it well,” added Kounde.

“The team is enjoying training and we’re comfortable in the games.

“He’s a very demanding coach and that’s suiting us well.”