Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe
So this is a glimpse of life without Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
There will be many sterner La Liga tests to come of course but any Sbobet followers who think Real will no longer be a force should think again.
This was dominant from start to finish and remember, World Cup winner Raphael Varane, player of the tournament Luka Modric, and Casemiro- taken off injured during last week’s European Super Cup Final – are yet to return.
Highlights of the game
It’s fair to say that without 50 goal of a season man Ronaldo, Real have a legend to replace and reinforcements will be required.
With just over a week remaining of the Spanish transfer window, it remains to be seen who may move to the Nou Camp.
Whoever makes the move, however, it’s clear Real lack the strength in depth they had until this time around a year ago.
And new coach Julen Lopetegui is well aware of the challenges (both positive and negatives) he now faces and how he needs to strengthen his squad.
Yet they are not champions of Europe three years in a row without good reason.
Spearheading the domestic challenge and hoping to avoid the meek title challenge they put up 12 months ago – they had all but surrendered the crown by Christmas – will be the new attack of Karim Benzema, Isco, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio.
They were at the forefront here from the start.
New goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was not selected for this fixture (Costa Rica Keylor Navas keeping his place), unlike his opposite number for Getafe, David Soria, who started between the sticks following his summer move from Sevilla and was called upon from the outset.
He had tipped over a Bale effort after only four minutes – an assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside anyway – then Bale went even closer with a powerful diving header from a Marcelo cross which crashed back off the bar.
When the opening goal did arrive in the 20th minute it came from an unlikely source.
Bale was again involved, his deflected cross punched clear by Soria but only to fullback Dani Carvajal who looped a header back over the debutant and into the empty net.
It was Carvajal’s first goal for the club since April 2014.
Despite territorial dominance, Real only went in one goal to the good at the break as the one-way traffic continued – Serbian defender Nemanja Maksimovicalso busy for the visitors following his move from Valencia.
Bale wasn’t to be denied and grabbed a decisive second five minutes after the restart, slamming home the ball from Asensio’s delivery after shocking defending.
Asensio then hit the post with a long-range effort as Getafe struggled to deal with the relentless home pressure.
Bale’s goal meant he has scored with eight of his last 11 efforts on target (last season and now this).
As he seeks to find what he calls his ‘magic formula’, Lopetegui knows Bale should be the fulcrum he shapes his side around
Real could even afford to bring off Iscoand Bale with the match all but won.
La Liga 2018 betting odds make Los Blancos second favourites and there were glimpses here why, although they will need to improve on their record of last season when they dropped 17 points at home.
For now though a decent start and a sign that Bale will be one to watch.
Key statistics
If this can be classed as a Madrid derby, there will be derbies aplenty this term.
La Liga 2018 news tell us there are five clubs from Madrid in the Spanish top flight this season with Real, Atletico, Getafe (who play on the outskirts of the city), Leganes and newly promoted Rayo Vallecano representing the capital.
Real Madrid last lost an opening home match of the season in 1984. They have since won 11 and draw four.
Until this game (when he created it), Bale had scored Real Madrid’s first league goal of the season for three years in a row (v Real Betis 2015, Real Sociedad 2016 and Deportivo La Coruna 2017).
Getafe, who failed to muster a shot on target until the 92nd minute, picked up seven yellow cards in this encounter – six of the cautions were from their starting XI, the other from a substitute.
What’s next?
Real now travel to Girona (August 26) before hosting Leganes on September 1.
Getafe have two home matches to look forward to – welcoming Eibar (August 24) and newly promoted Valladolid (Aug 31) to the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
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