Madrid wins postponed game

Madrid, Feb 10 (AP): It was an assist by a left back on a goal by another left back that sealed Real Madrid’s win in the Spanish league.
Zinedine Zidane’s team needed an unusual starting lineup to keep its momentum and cut Atletico Madrid’s lead to five points, with Marcelo setting up Ferland Mendy for the team’s second goal in a 2-0 win over Getafe. Karim Benzema had already scored in the second half and Madrid went on to win for the third time in four games in a match that was postponed from the first round as European competitions finished later than scheduled last season because of the coronavirus pandemic. With his squad depleted by injuries and suspensions, Zidane was forced to change the team’s formation and use some players out of position. Nine players were unavailable for the match at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, including captain Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos and Eden Hazard. Zidane switched to a 3-5-2 formation and promoted the first senior-squad start for 20-year-old Marvin Park. Two other youth players later entered the game Victor Chust and Sergio Arribas. “It was a different design but it worked out well,” Zidane said.
“Taking into consideration the players who were not available, we played a good match. I’m happy.”
The coach said he didn’t have enough time to prepare the team and only went through the new formation with players just before the match.
“They players adapted very well,” Zidane said. “We were not used to this new formation but in the end it worked well.”
The victory came a day after Atletico conceded late and stumbled to a 2-2 home draw against Celta Vigo to see its eight-game winning streak end. Madrid, trying to repeat as league champion for the first time since 2007-08, moved closer to the top but its city rival remained with two games in hand.