(AFP) - Real Madrid rose to the top of the Spanish Football League , with a difficult 1-0 victory at its host Getafe, with an early goal by Brazilian defender Eder Militao, in the eighth stage competitions, Saturday.

The royal club raised its score to 22 points, hoping that Celta Vigo would provide an unexpected service to its host Barcelona on Sunday.

And Real had settled for a 1-1 draw at home with Osasuna in the previous stage, opening the door for its Catalan rivals to take the lead at the end of last week for the first time in nearly two years, after its victory over Real Mallorca.

French striker Karim Benzema was absent from the ranks of the Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti's team due to a "muscle problem", noting that he missed a decisive penalty kick against Osasuna when he returned to the competitions after being absent for nearly a month due to injury.

He also participated in the 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the middle of the week in the Champions League, but he did not train with the team on Friday after a new setback.

The royal quickly opened the scoring with Militao's header in the third minute, after a corner was taken by Croatian Luka Modric.

The first half did not witness many chances, as Getafe did not hit any shots on the goal, while Real Madrid waited until the 39th minute to shoot again through the Brazilian Rodrigo, who was blocked by the goalkeeper.

The referee awarded a penalty kick in favor of the other Brazilian, Vinicius, after he was fouled, before canceling it after resorting to the video assistant referee “VAR” because the ball crossed the touchline in building the attack (43).

The Turkish Ennis Onal hit the three planks for the landowners for the first time with the start of the second half. It was easy in the hands of the Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, the Belgian substitute Thibaut Courtois, who still suffers from a sciatica injury (46), before also later expelling a powerful ball from Carles Alenia. And turned it into a corner (49).

The Frenchman, Aurelien Choameni, shot from inside the area, which was blocked by Getafe's goalkeeper (48).

And “VAR” canceled a goal by Rodrigo for sneaking into the area after a ball he received from Uruguayan Federico Valverde (57), who hit a powerful ball from outside the area, which was blocked by the goalkeeper (77).

Atletico Madrid recovered from its Continental loss in the middle of the week, by defeating Girona 2-1, with a double from Argentine Angel Correa.

The capital team advanced to fourth place, a point ahead of fifth Real Betis, who beat Valladolid on Sunday.

Atletico entered the match after falling 2-0 against Club Brugge in Belgium on Tuesday in the Champions League, to suffer its second continental defeat in exchange for one victory.

And the Rojiblanco achieved its second successive victory locally, after beating Seville 2-0 last week, after falling against Real Madrid two stages ago.

Frenchman Antoine Griezmann started after Barcelona coach Xavi confirmed that his club “told me that an agreement had been reached” to convert the striker’s loan into a permanent transfer, adding, “But it is not yet official. If there is an agreement, then this means that all parties are satisfied. I wish success.” to the player.”

Argentine coach Diego Simeone used the French most of the time from the bench, as Atletico tried to avoid activating the mandatory purchase clause in the initial deal.

Griezmann played a key role in Atletico's first goal after he lifted the ball, followed by Korea at the far post in the fifth minute.
Brazilian Mateusz Konya almost doubled the lead for the hosts, had it not been for goalkeeper Juan Carlos' save from close range.

However, Correa managed to do so with the start of the second half, after he cut a wrong pass from the goalkeeper to put the ball into the net (48).
Rodrigo Riquelme, who was loaned to Girona from Atletico in particular, narrowed the difference with a long shot that rebounded from the opponent to continue its way to the goal (65).

There were two clear chances for the guests to tie the score in an exciting end to the match, had it not been for the brilliance of Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who saved Ales Garcia's far ball, before Uruguayan substitute Christian Stuani's header bounced off the post.

Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli began his new mission at the head of the coaching staff of Seville, with a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao III.

Sampaoli succeeded Spaniard Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked minutes after the resounding loss at home in the middle of the week 4-1 against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, it was his second continental match against a draw.
The Andalusian team, which always competes in advanced positions, also suffers locally, as it settled with Lopetegui with an orphan victory against four defeats and two draws in La Liga.
And at the Ramon Sanchez Pisjuan stadium, Oliver Torres opened the score for the hosts in the fourth minute, while Athletic snatched a tie a quarter of an hour before the end through Mikel Vesga (74).
Coach Ernesto Valverde's team raised its score to 16 points in third place, compared to five points for the seventeenth Seville.