Militao's early header earns Real Madrid win at Getafe

GETAFE, Spain: Defender Eder Militao's early header gave Real Madrid a low-key 1-0 win at Getafe on Saturday to move them back up to the top of the LaLiga standings.

Militao scored the winner in the third minute, ghosting between several defenders to head home from close-range from a corner by Luka Modric.

Yet despite their early breakthrough and a dominant performance, Real were unable to break down Getafe’s defensive wall and extend their lead.

Playing at Getafe has often caused trouble for Real, who were winless in their two previous visits to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, having failed to score in both matches.

Real, who bounced back from dropping their first points of the campaign in a disappointing home draw against Osasuna last weekend, moved on to 22 points, three ahead of rivals Barcelona who have a game in hand and will host Celta Vigo on Sunday.

"Our goal today was to win and keep the pressure now over Barcelona," Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal told Movistar Plus.

"We always want to score more, but the good thing today was our effort in defence.

"To not concede a goal was really important and helped us to get to the objective that was get back to winning ways."

After conceding a goal in each of his first seven starts for Real Madrid, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin kept his first clean-sheet for the Spanish giants.

"I think we controlled the game well from the beginning and were really close to securing the points with a second goal," coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

"We were not good in front of the goal, missed many chances. We could have scored more, we had plenty of opportunities."

After the early goal, Real piled on the pressure.

Rodrygo, who played centre forward in place of Karim Benzema, who was rested by Ancelotti ahead of