MADRID: Real Madrid moved a step closer to the La Liga title after easing past city rivals Getafe 2-0 on Saturday thanks to goals from Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez and restore their advantage to 12 points at the top of La Liga.

Casemiro’s header and a smart finish by Vazquez sealed a comfortable victory for Madrid, who can turn their attention back to finishing the job against Chelsea and rea­ching the Champions League semi-finals.

In the night’s other match Spanish champions Atletico Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss at lowly Mallorca to end their six-game winning streak.

Karim Benzema, the hat-trick hero of Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Chelsea, started against Getafe but came off in the 74th minute, departing to a standing ovation which felt like the Santiago Bernabeu crowd paying tribute to his performance at Stamford Bridge.

Madrid had gone 20 home games in between without the Welshman, who was whistled by a section of disgruntled supporters.

Benzema had an early goal ruled out for offside but it did not take long for Madrid to break through Getafe, a sumptuous cross from the outside of Vinicius Junior’s right foot finding Casemiro’s head six yards out.

Vazquez’s second came in the 68th minute, as he flicked the ball down the right-hand channel to Rodrygo and kept running, receiving the pass back from Rodrygo and guiding a finish into the far corner.

Meanwhile, Atletico run-in could be less comfortable after they were dragged back into the fight for the top four following a defeat by relegation battlers Mallorca.

The loss leaves Diego Simeone’s side just a point in front of Real Betis in the table after Betis had earlier come from behind to beat Cadiz 2-1 thanks to a late penalty from Borja Iglesias.

The decisive moment came in the 68th minute, after Atletico’s Reinildo Mandava kicked through the back of Mallorca’s Pablo Maffeo from behind and just inside the area.

Vedat Muriqi tucked away the penalty and Atletico had no answer, managing just one shot on target after they failed to muster any against City.

Also, the clash between Villarreal and Athletic Club ends in a 1-1 draw.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2022