Real Madrid go 12 points clear; Atleti stumble against Mallorca

Sports Desk, Apr 9 (EFE).- Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 Saturday to extend their lead atop LaLiga to 12 points, while defending champions Atletico Madrid put their hopes of a top-four finish in jeopardy by losing away to lowly Mallorca.

The Blancos improved to 72 points and can effectively clinch the title next week with a win over second-place Sevilla. While Atleti remain fourth, they are just a point better than Real Betis.

Days after the impressive 3-1 away victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to rest a few starters and his bench proved equal to the task.

The Blancos dominated from the start and the breakthrough came in the 38th minute, when Casemiro got his head to a fine cross from Vinicius Jr., and Lucas Vazquez added a second goal with 20 minutes left, though one would have been adequate on a night when Getafe failed to put a single shot on target.

Atleti, still drained from their midweek Champions League loss at Manchester City, had nearly 70 percent possession against 18th-place Mallorca, but managed only one shot on target.

While the hosts didn’t create much on the attack, Reinildo Mandava’s foul on Maffeo gave them a chance from the penalty spot in the 68th minute and Vedat Muriqi converted.

Mallorca defended the narrow lead and posted their first win in eight matches, enough to lift them out of the drop zone, at least for the moment. EFE

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