Defender Eder Militao’s early header gave Real Madrid a low-key 1-0 win at Getafe on Saturday to move them back up to the top of the LaLiga standings.

Militao scored the winner in the third minute, ghosting between several defenders to head home from close-range from a corner by Luka Modric.

Yet despite their early breakthrough and a dominant performance, Real were unable to break down Getafe’s defensive wall and extend their lead.

Playing at Getafe has often caused trouble for Real, who were winless in their two previous visits to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, having failed to score in both matches.

Real, who bounced back from dropping their first points of the campaign in a disappointing home draw against Osasuna last weekend, moved on to 22 points, three ahead of rivals Barcelona who have a game in hand and will host Celta Vigo on Sunday.

“Our goal was to win and keep the pressure now over Barcelona,” Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal said.

“We always want to score more, but the good thing today was our effort in defence. To not concede a goal was really important and helped us to get to the objective that was get back to winning ways.”

After conceding a goal in each of his first seven starts for Real Madrid, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin kept his first clean sheet for the Spanish giants.

“I think we controlled the game well from the beginning and were really close to securing the points with a second goal,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

“We were not good in front of the goal, missed many chances. We could have scored more, we had plenty of opportunities.”

After the early goal, Real piled on the pressure. Rodrygo, who played centre forward in place of Karim Benzema, who was rested by Ancelotti ahead of next weekend’s El Clasico against Barcelona, was the focal point of Real Madrid’s attack.

He missed a great chance with a close-range header and Modric, who was returning after missing two games with a hip injury he suffered on international duty with Croatia, fired a bullet-shot wide from the edge of the box.

Ramos sees red

Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain played more than one half with 10 men but salvaged a goalless draw at Stade de Reims on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run this season.

Sergio Ramos picked up a straight red card as tempers flared shortly before halftime but a reshuffled PSG, in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, managed to keep a clean sheet.

They have 26 points from 10 games and lead Olympique de Marseille, who slumped to a 2-1 home defeat by AC Ajaccio, by three points.

The hosts played boldly but PSG had the best chance through Mbappe, who was denied from close range by Yehvann Diouf in the 33rd minute.

Ramos, however, picked up a yellow card after arguing with referee Pierre Gaillouste, who an instant later went back to the Spaniard and handed him a straight red card. Coach Christophe Galtier replaced Carlos Soler with Neymar as PSG pushed for the win but the visitors lacked ideas.

Italy to face England

London: European champion Italy was drawn to face England in qualification for Euro 2024 on Sunday.

Italy beat England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final last summer and did so again in the Nations League last month.

Group C also includes Ukraine, beaten by England in the quarter finals of Euro 2020, along with North Macedonia and Malta.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini welcomed the draw, telling Sky Sports: “I think it’s always good to play against England in Wembley. It’s a good thing.

“It don’t change nothing for us. Maybe Italy and England will be favourites in this group, but it’s important to play all the games 100 per cent.”

AP/PTI