La Liga: Real Madrid end turbulent week with win, Barcelona held

Real Madrid ended a turbulent week off the pitch on a high when Karim Benzema struck twice in a 4-1 victory over Getafe in La Liga.

Real Madrid ended a turbulent week off the pitch on a high when Karim Benzema struck twice in a 4-1 victory over Getafe in La Liga on Saturday before leaders Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia.
Real's performance at the Bernabeu lifted them into second for a couple of hours before Atletico Madrid responded with a 2-0 win at Granada, while Santi Mina's late strike for Valencia rescued a point with new coach Gary Neville in the stands. Neville, who was appointed last week but will not officially take over until Sunday, saw plenty to impress him as the home side recovered from falling behind to Luis Suarez's 59th minute goal to stun the Spanish and European champions.
With 14 matches played, Barca lead on 34 points, two ahead of Atletico, with Real a further two points adrift in third. Celta Vigo have 25 points in fourth after they drew 1-1 at Real Betis, while Deportivo La Coruna are on 22 points in fifth following a 1-1 stalemate at home to Sevilla. Valencia are seventh on 20 points and Sevilla 10th on 19.

Real were expelled from the King’s Cup on Friday after fielding an ineligible player in Wednesday’s last 32, first leg at third-tier Cadiz, the latest setback in a difficult few weeks for the world’s richest club by income. Hammered 4-0 at home by bitter rivals Barca last month, Real needed a strong performance against city neighbours Getafe to relieve the pressure on coach Rafa Benitez.
Benitez, who took over from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season, was roundly whistled when his name was read out with the team lists before kickoff and there were more chants during the game calling for president Florentino Perez to step down.