MADRID: Gareth Bale was denied a home debut for Real Madrid after straining a thigh muscle in the pre-match warm – but they did not miss him in the derby against Getafe.
Madrid won 4-1 after conceding a fifth-minute goal to Angel Lafita. Pepe equalised a quarter of an hour later and Cristiano Ronaldo put them ahead from a penalty before Isco – Bale’s replacement – extended Madrid’s advantage in the second half.
Getafe midfielder Michel, who had given away the penalty, was sent off for a second bookable offence with eight minutes remaining and Ronaldo capitalised to score his second goal of the night in stoppage time.
This was his 208th goal for the record nine-times European chmpions which took him clear of former Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez as the club’s all-time fifth top scorer.
In Holland PSV Eindhoven stunned champions Ajax 4-0 to go top of table. PSV’s goals all came in a 15-minute spell in the second half.
Tim Matavz opened up in the 53rd minute following a mistake by Ajax keeper Kenneth Vermeer and then Jetro Willems (61), Oscar Hiljemark (64) and Park Ji-sung (68) struck in rapid succession to finish off the visitors, who also lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.
PSV thus moved two points clear of PEC Zwolle who slipped to a second successive defeat, 3-0 away to Vitesse Arnhem.
In Italy Spain striker Fernando Llorente scored the winner on his full debut as Juventus came from behind to win 2-1 at home to promoted Verona who took a surprise lead through Fabrizio Cacciatore.
Carlos Tevez responded emphatically with a fiercely-struck equaliser and Llorente completed the revival with a headed goal in first-half stoppage time.
Roma struck twice in the second half to beat Lazio 2-0 in the Eternal City derby and retain their 100 per cent record.
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