Soccer-Bellingham, Mbappe on target as Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0
MADRID, Spain, Dec 1 – Jude Bellingham converted a penalty and Kylian Mbappe added another goal before halftime to spur Real Madrid to a 2-0 victory over Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, moving them within touching distance of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
Real climbed to second place in the table with 33 points from 14 matches, just one point behind rivals Barcelona, who have played a game more. Getafe currently sit in 17th place, having collected 13 points from 15 matches.
The match saw Real awarded a penalty in the 30th minute after Getafe’s right back, Allan Nyom, brought down center back Antonio Ruediger in the box during a corner kick situation.
Bellingham took charge of the penalty, stepping up instead of Frenchman Mbappe, who recently missed a spot kick in Real’s defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League. Bellingham confidently struck the ball straight down the middle, easily beating goalkeeper David Soria.
The 21-year-old England midfielder has now scored in three consecutive league matches, showcasing his continuing development at the club.
Mbappe then doubled the lead for Real in the 38th minute, latching onto an excellent pass from Bellingham and firing the ball into the net from outside the box. This marked Mbappe’s 10th goal of the season in all competitions after moving to the Bernabeu from Paris St Germain on a free transfer in June.
Mbappe is now Real’s joint-top scorer in the league, tied with the injured Vinicius Jr., both boasting eight goals each.
The France captain had a lively performance, especially in the second half, coming close to scoring on three occasions. His best chance came when he made a remarkable solo run around Soria, but his shot went narrowly wide.
Despite dominating the game and holding a significant 70% possession against Getafe, Real Madrid wasn’t without a scare. Getafe rattled the woodwork twice, including a near-miss from midfielder John Patrick in the closing minutes.
“They dominated, but realistically we had two shots against the posts. If those had gone in, it could have been a different story,” commented Getafe defender Juan Berrocal.
The reigning champions are set to visit Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, aiming to maintain their positive momentum.
“We responded well after the previous defeat,” said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on Real Madrid TV. “They are an intense team, but we managed to score two key goals.”
Courtois also shared his thoughts on the team’s status in the title race, saying, “We are focused on our own games. We have improved significantly, and we must continue this way as the season progresses.”
