Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid 4 - 1 Getafe

Getafe was doomed from the start. If there is one team you shouldn't give space to, it's Real Madrid. Giving space to any team is going to set you up for a long night, but it's particularly suicidal against a team like Real who loves shooting from distance and has pace to get in behind defenders. By the time they rectified their shape the second half, Getafe had already lost the match.

Six notes.

1. A clear message to Arbeloa from Rafa Benitez, who is now the 10th choice full-back in the team after Lucas Vasquez, Chendo, the pylon used to block traffic for the players coming out of the Bernabeu after the match, Rafa Benitez's dog, and Rafa Benitez himself. 
   
   The idea of Lucas as a right back is sound, in an emergency scenario, anyway. As a winger, he emphasizes safety and covering defensive space without taking many defensive gambles. As a wing-back, he essentially becomes a very defensive-minded right winger. It was a solid match from Lucas who was rarely tested in this match apart from once in the first half where Wanderson (I believe) got around him with relative ease. But it still was no worse than what Arbeloa would have been doing.
   
   
2. Another good match from Bale, who clearly has the green light to shoot from anywhere - and why not? He's among the deadliest from long range. It's his third solid outing in a row, adding to his good performances pre-injury. You have to wonder how long it will be until he becomes widely accepted as a legitimated contributor to the team by the fans.
   
   
3. Solid match from Benzema. He's having such a good season overall, it's a shame about everything else outside the pitch that's happening.
   
   
4. Watching Modric pass the ball around is one of the most aesthetically-pleasing things in all of football. His play really set the tone for the entire team. As a whole, Real Madrid were passing at will, and their passing chart from the match (below) is pretty telling. 585 / 635 passes completed (as of the 90th minute).
   
   

   

   
   
   
5. Pepe can cross. That was one of the best crosses we've seen this season.
   
   
6. Congratulations to Cristiano who surpassed the great Hugo Sanchez as the third highest goalscorer in La Liga history. What's amazing about that stat is that he did it in about 130 + less games. Good game from Ronaldo tonight, and despite how silly he can be, we love him. 
   
   
   
   

Ronaldo doesn’t care that his teammate scored, he wanted a penalty (via @JristoE): https://t.co/Aa9beADUSX https://t.co/Yl9gxvCN8Z

— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 5, 2015