Madrid: Real Madrid got off to a winning start Sunday in La Liga by comfortably beating neighbours Getafe 2-0 at home with an inspiring performance from Gareth Bale in the European champions’ first league game in the post Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane era.
Bale crashed a diving header against the crossbar early on, then helped to set up Dani Carvajal’s looping header which broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, before wrapping up the points with a powerful first time finish early in the second half.
The Wales forward was given a standing ovation by the home supporters in his first competitive game back at the Santiago Bernabeu since scoring twice in the 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League final.
The result lifts the pressure on new coach Julen Lopetegui after Wednesday’s painful 2-4 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.
“It was very important to make a strong start with good sensations and we played very well; we have to go little by little but this is the right way to start the league season,” Real winger Marco Asensio told reporters.
“Cristiano has left but we have a good team. We are working hard, you saw that reflected on the pitch today (Sunday) and this is the way to continue,” he added.
Lopetegui again chose Costa Rica international Keylor Navas in goal ahead of 30-million-euro ($34.31-million) signing Thibaut Courtois and fielded Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos over Luka Modric.
Real monopolised the ball with a staggering 78 per cent of possession and barely conceded a chance to Getafe, who picked up seven yellow cards as they desperately tried to halt Real’s frequent attacks.