Reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid defeated Getafe 2-0 on Sunday to move up to second place in La Liga. Kylian Mbappé found the back of the net after a challenging week but missed several clear chances, leaving room for improvement.

The French striker, who has faced criticism for his recent form, added to Real Madrid's tally after Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a penalty. Despite scoring, Mbappé squandered three other golden opportunities, though his contribution helped Madrid close the gap to one point behind league leaders Barcelona, who suffered a home defeat to Las Palmas on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois likened Mbappé’s recent struggles to a blocked bottle.

“Sometimes, it’s like a bottle that’s a bit blocked... but once it starts flowing, I think he’ll score a lot more goals,” Courtois remarked. “His missed chances are unfortunate, but his goal in the first half was exceptional. From that position, getting a shot on target and finishing like that is incredibly difficult.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who have a game in hand over both Barcelona and third-placed Atlético Madrid, benefitted from Mbappé’s energetic performance.

“Mbappé played very well—he was active and dangerous as always,” said Ancelotti. “He scored an important goal, created opportunities, and had an overall strong performance, which is exactly what we want from him.”

Mbappé, operating in his preferred position on the left wing with Vinícius Júnior sidelined by injury, enjoyed strong support from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd.

“The fans understand better than anyone the situation the team and players are in,” Ancelotti added.

Bellingham Opens the Scoring

Getafe aimed to disrupt Real Madrid’s rhythm by slowing the game, a tactic that worked until Allan Nyom fouled Antonio Rüdiger in the penalty area after half an hour.

With Mbappé missing a penalty against Liverpool during the midweek Champions League clash at Anfield, Jude Bellingham stepped up to take the spot-kick. The England international calmly sent goalkeeper David Soria the wrong way to score his third league goal in as many matches.

“Today, Bellingham and Mbappé decided between themselves who would take the penalty, and they chose Bellingham,” Ancelotti explained.

Mbappé doubled Madrid’s lead seven minutes before half-time, cutting in from the left flank after receiving the ball from Bellingham and curling a superb low shot inside the far post. The strike marked his eighth league goal of the season.

Missed Chances and Injury Concerns

Ancelotti substituted Bellingham at half-time due to a knock sustained in a collision with Soria. The manager later expressed optimism about the midfielder’s quick recovery.

In the second half, Mbappé showcased his playmaking ability with a delicate chipped pass to Brahim Díaz, whose effort narrowly missed the target. The French forward came close to scoring again but missed two clear-cut chances, including one where he rounded Soria only to fire wide.

Getafe nearly struck back, with John Patrick and Chrisantus Uche hitting the woodwork, but they ultimately failed to convert their opportunities.

Ancelotti acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries but commended his team’s determination.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries, but we’re fighting and battling,” he said. “What gives me the most confidence is our attitude, concentration, and spirit. As we resolve our problems, we’ll continue competing at the top.”

Around La Liga

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao climbed to fourth place after Oihan Sancet scored a second-half brace to secure a 2-1 comeback victory over Rayo Vallecano. Randy Nteka had given Vallecano the lead with a composed finish, while goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made several excellent saves to keep his side in the game. However, Sancet’s introduction proved decisive for Ernesto Valverde’s team.

Meanwhile, Villarreal, fifth and level on points with Bilbao, were held to a 2-2 draw by Girona earlier in the day.

Real Madrid will face Athletic Bilbao in midweek as they aim to extend their three-match winning streak in La Liga.