Casemiro scored his first goal of the season as Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday to maintain their 12-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table.
The Brazilian midfielder opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a diving header from Vinicius Jr.'s pinpoint cross, before Lucas Vazquez added the second half an hour later - after exchanging a pass with Rodrigo - to secure the win.
The result gives Real Madrid 72 points with seven matches remaining, comfortably ahead of second-placed Sevilla on 60 points and Barcelona, who play on Sunday at 57.
"We made it quiet, but it wasn't quiet. We ran a lot until the end, we fought and Getafe was fighting there," Marcelo said after the match. "We had more balls, we knew how to block their counter-attacks, we knew we could score at some point, and in the end we did it in the first half and the second half, but it was difficult. "
"I think every player needs to feel important, need to play, and we are all important. It's nice to see some players today who don't have that many minutes. We are a team of 25, 26, our Have to be there for everyone because that's what we need by the end of the season."
"Casimiro is on the defense but he can score, he does a lot in the opposition box and today he had the good fortune to score."
Getafe beat Madrid 1–0 when the two sides met in January, and Carlo Ancelotti made four changes to the squad, which won 3–1 in midweek at Chelsea with Marcelo, Lucas Vazquez, Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrigo Of.
Madrid got off to a good start and a fourth-minute goal by Karim Benzema was dismissed for offside. The home side created a string of chances as Marcelo had a save shot by goalkeeper David Soria, Lucas Vazquez fired into the side netting, Soria disallowed Fede Valverde and Vinicius slammed the ball through defender Jeanne's legs. Saved after sliding. Dakonam.
Getafe posed little danger - David Alaba had to run back to cover when Borja Mayoral fell behind in a rare attack - before Vinicius delivered a delivery that saw Madrid scoring. The winger crossed Casemiro on the outside of his right foot to cross Vinicius' seventh assist Soria in LaLiga this season.
Casemiro and Valverde were both booked before half-time, with Brazil's card meaning he will miss Madrid's trip to Sevilla next weekend.
After the break, both Marcelo and Valverde went close, before Vazquez cut inside from the right before finishing low in the bottom corner, making it 2-0 in the 69th minute.
As Madrid headed to victory, Gareth Bale came off the bench and was whistled by Real Madrid fans in his first appearance at the Bernabeu since February 2020, before Getafe's Anse Unal declared the visitors' best of the night Hit the post on the spot.
"It's difficult, it's happened to a lot of people, but we are all important," said Marcelo, whistling for the Wales international. "Every player who goes on the pitch, we are playing for a lot of things till the end of the season, we have to be united, to help our teammates, the fans have to help us too, but that's it, we Keep going and keep calm.
"We're with him, it's a little sad but we have to play for shirts and sweat, that's all."
Ancelotti said: "No injury. Bale is fine, he's training well and he wants to play and help the team, that's the most important thing. All we need at this time of the season is the team." And the unity among fans is very important."