Real Madrid moved a step closer to the La Liga title after easing past city rivals Getafe 2-0 on Saturday thanks to goals from Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez.

With seven games left, Real extended their lead atop the standings to 12 points over Sevilla. Casemiro opened the scoring after 38 minutes, diving to head home a brilliant outside of the boot cross from Vinicius Jr.

The young Brazilian winger was once again instrumental for Real Madrid, a constant threat to Getafe’s defence who created most of his team’s chances from the left flank.Totally in control, Real extended their lead in the second half as Vazquez finished coolly with a precise cross-shot after a nice exchange of passes with Rodrygo. Getafe, who are four points away from the relegation zone and have only won two of their last eight league games, managed no shots on target.

“It wasn’t easy, we made it look easy,” Real Madrid captain Marcelo told Movistar Plus. The experienced defender was one of several squad players who started as coach Carlo Ancelotti rotated his squad ahead of the Champions League quarter final second leg against Chelsea on Tuesday. “We ran a lot and played hard until the end,” Marcelo said. “Everyone in the locker room needs to feel important, it was nice to see some of us who don’t have many minutes to enjoy themselves in front of our fans.”

Bale booed

One player who did not get a warm reception was Welsh forward Gareth Bale, who came off the bench in the 74th minute to loud booing from the Real Madrid fans for his first appearance at Santiago Bernabeu in more than two years.

“It’s hard, it happened to many players in this club,” Marcelo said.

“Fans need to understand that we are all important. We are at the end of the season, we have a lot at stake, we have to help each other, our teammates. We are with him.”

In the past Bale, who joined Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then-record transfer fee of 100 million euros, has had run-ins with the club’s management and almost left in 2020 after he fell out of favour with then manager Zinedine Zidane.

Recently, however, he has suffered multiple fitness setbacks and the fans and as well as local media have turned on him. “The booing is understandable but our fans need to understand that their support is very important too,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

“Yes, Bale was booed but he is a serious professional, he is doing well in training and if necessary he will play this final stretch of the season. The fans have to understand that.”

Bale recently hit out at Spanish newspaper Marca for comparing him to a “parasite” over claims that he was sucking money out of the Spanish club.