Bellingham and Mbappe score as Madrid closes in
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe were on target against Getafe as Real Madrid moved to within a point of LaLiga leader Barcelona with a game in hand thanks to a 2-0 victory at Santiago Bernabeu.
After Barca's shock 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas, Los Blancos broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark.
With Mbappe having failed from 12 yards against Liverpool in midweek, Bellingham made no mistake after Allan Nyom was penalised for a foul on Antonio Rudiger.
Bellingham then turned provider as Madrid doubled its lead eight minutes later by finding the France captain, who whipped the ball home from outside the box for his 10th goal of the season, scoring in consecutive top-flight games for the first time since September.
Madrid has now won each of its past 16 home LaLiga matches against Getafe. It is its joint most successive such victories over a single opponent in the division.
While Madrid, which recorded three straight clean sheets for the first time this term, maintains the pressure on Barca at the LaLiga summit, Getafe has slipped to 17th place with only goal difference keeping it outside the relegation zone.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti expressed his delight with Mbappe's performance, despite the Frenchman missing a number of opportunities presented to him other than the goal he did put away.
Mbappe was named the MVP after the match, registering a team-high expected goals (xG) tally of 1.29 to Madrid's 2.58 total, and also had more shots on target (two) and touches in the opposition box (eight) than any of his team-mates.
"He was active, dangerous and scored a great goal, which was important to control the rest of the game. He was active and that's what we want from him," Ancelotti said of the Frenchman.
"The fans understand better than anyone the moment of the team and the players. They supported Mbappe after Anfield because it was the right thing to do.
"Yes, a relief for everyone because it was a spectacular goal with fantastic execution," Ancelotti added when asked if it was a relief for Mbappe to score against Getafe.
The result saw Los Blancos extend their unbeaten home run against Getafe to 16 matches. Only against Racing Santander (18 between 1952 and 1994) have they achieved a longer home winning streak in the competition.
Ancelotti remained also without several of his first-team players, with David Alaba, Eder Militao, Vinicius, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga all missing.
It looked as though his side had suffered another injury blow when goalscorer Bellingham was taken off at the break, but Ancelotti is confident it was nothing serious.
"Despite the difficulties, which are many because of all the injuries we are having, we are fighting and struggling," Ancelotti said.
"We have returned to playing with concentration, spirit and attitude and that reassures me and gives me confidence.
"Little by little we will solve the problems, but in the meantime we are fighting."
Madrid's next assignment comes in the shape of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, which edged past Rayo Vallecano 2-1 thanks to Oihan Sancet's brace.
