Kylian Mbappé extended his remarkable scoring run to 11 consecutive matches, helping Real Madrid reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a hard-fought 1-0 win over nine-man Getafe on Sunday.
After Barcelona briefly climbed to first place following their narrow victory over Girona on Saturday, Xabi Alonso’s men restored their two-point cushion ahead of next weekend’s much-anticipated Clasico.
Getafe frustrated Madrid for most of the match until Allan Nyom, introduced just moments earlier, was sent off for a reckless challenge. Mbappé capitalized almost immediately, breaking the deadlock in the 80th minute. Alex Sancris was also dismissed as Getafe unraveled in the closing stages.
With one eye on the midweek Champions League clash against Juventus and the Clasico against Barcelona, Alonso opted to start without Vinicius Junior. However, the Brazilian proved pivotal after coming on in the second half, drawing both of Getafe’s red cards.
“Vini had a great impact… we told him this morning he could be so important,” Alonso told reporters. “It was a very demanding game, coming here to face Getafe is never easy… it wasn’t the prettiest game but we did what we had to do.”
Mbappé, who had missed France’s recent World Cup qualifier due to an ankle problem, led Madrid’s attack at the Coliseum stadium and once again delivered. The French star, having scored in his previous 10 outings for club and country, found the net to make it 11 in a row.
“We are very happy with how Kylian is going; he’s being decisive,” Alonso added.
Before the breakthrough, Mbappé came close twice as Getafe’s organized defense limited Madrid’s chances. Only towards the end of the first half did the visitors find some rhythm—with Getafe goalkeeper David Soria denying Rodrygo after fine work from Jude Bellingham. Soria also saved a fierce David Alaba free-kick, while Fede Valverde fired narrowly wide before the interval.
In the second half, Vinicius’s introduction injected pace and unpredictability into Madrid’s play, forcing Getafe into a series of fouls to contain him. Bellingham teed up Mbappé for a chance that went wide, before the forward curled a free-kick just past the post as Madrid continued to dominate.
Getafe See Red
The momentum shifted when Nyom, less than a minute after entering the game, elbowed Vinicius off the ball and received a straight red card. Madrid instantly punished the hosts.
Teenager Arda Güler provided the assist—sliding the ball through to Mbappé, who timed his run perfectly, turned, and fired low off the post past Soria for his 10th La Liga goal of the season. He now leads both the domestic and Champions League scoring charts.
Getafe’s night worsened when Sancris was sent off for a second yellow card after another rash foul on Vinicius, leaving Jose Bordalas’s team with nine players.
Vinicius continued to torment the defense, nearly setting up Alvaro Carreras, who shot wide after a clever scoop pass. The Brazilian forward endured jeers from Getafe supporters throughout the final minutes.
Despite being two men down, the hosts almost salvaged a point in stoppage time, but Thibaut Courtois produced a crucial knee save to deny English forward Abu Kamara.
“We should not give away this chance, but Thibaut did his job,” said Alonso afterward.
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas, however, disagreed with Nyom’s dismissal, arguing it turned the match in Madrid’s favor. “Nyom’s red card changed the game,” he said. “For me, it’s not a red card, yellow at most.”
Elsewhere in La Liga, newly-promoted Elche maintained their solid start to the campaign with a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao, keeping them seventh—one place above their Basque rivals. Rayo Vallecano climbed into 10th after a 3-0 win at Levante, while struggling Real Sociedad rescued a 1-1 draw at 10-man Celta Vigo.
What You Should Know
Kylian Mbappé continues his stunning form for Real Madrid, scoring in 11 consecutive matches and sealing a vital 1-0 victory that restored Madrid’s lead in La Liga.
Getafe’s indiscipline—with two red cards for fouls on Vinicius Junior—proved costly, allowing Mbappé to strike late and secure all three points. As Madrid prepare for a Champions League showdown with Juventus and the Clasico against Barcelona, Alonso’s side remain firm title contenders under intense pressure.
