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Ten man Real topples Getafe as Higuain nets twice

Sat 31st, October 2009

Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Gonzalo Higuain scored twice in the second half to help 10-man Real Madrid earn a 2-0 win over Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

Real suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to third-division side Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey in midweek, and after defender Raul Albiol was hit with a straight red card in the 27th minute, it looked like another miserable day for the Spanish giants.

However, the home side put together a great response and Higuain provided the goals, which came three minutes apart early in the second half.

The result leaves Real just one point back of leaders Barcelona after they were denied a win on the final play of the game against Osasuna on Saturday with Gerard Pique scoring an own goal to leave his team with a 1-1 draw.

Neither side really had an advantage through the first 25 minutes, but the game changed dramatically in the 27th minute when Roberto Soldado and Albiol were battling for a long ball that was played over the top.

The Getafe striker went down just outside the area, and after the referee awarded a free kick he hit Albiol with a straight red card much to the surprise of the Real players.

It was a controversial sending off, but it sparked Real and they were the better side over the rest of the match despite playing with 10 men.

Karim Benzema had the best chance to open the scoring in the first half, but he was denied by the feet of Osasuna goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.

Getafe threatened just before halftime when Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas needed to make a save at full stretch to keep out Soldado's header, but the second half belonged to the hosts.

A couple of near misses just after the restart was followed by the first goal of the match, which came in the 53rd minute.

Marcelo's long ball was brought down off the chest of Higuain and he then hammered a shot into the upper corner of the net that gave Ustari no chance.

It took just three minutes for Real to double its lead as Benzema's through ball put Higuain into the box and he slotted his shot calmly past the keeper, while he was denied a hat trick a few minutes later by the post.

Sevilla moved to within four points of Barcelona as they knocked off second- from-the-bottom side Xerez, 2-0. Alvaro Negredo scored shortly before the break for Sevilla and Luis Fabiano grabbed a goal in the 89th minute, while Atletico Madrid's struggles continued with a 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao as Javier Martinez scored the lone goal in the first half.