Zinedine Zidane expects Real Madrid to receive a boost as Karim Benzema returns from injury to the squad.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said it was "important" that Cristiano Ronaldo ended his La Liga scoring drought this season with a late winner in Saturday afternoon's 2-1 victory at Getafe.
Fit-again Karim Benzema's solo strike opened the scoring just before half-time, but Getafe were back level 10 minutes after the break when Jorge Molina finished off a sweeping counter-attack from a borderline offside position.
Madrid had most of the ball from then on and the winner came with five minutes remaining when Ronaldo clinically converted substitute Isco's pass from 10 yards.
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"It was important for him to get his first goal," Zidane told his postmatch news conference. "It is important for him to score. We will see how it goes now but I am very happy with his goal, and also Isco's assist, and Karim's goal after being injured too.
"We suffered a lot but that is normal. In every La Liga game the opponent makes it difficult for you. We played a good game, first half was phenomenal, we had the ball and were making chances. We had a lapse of concentration for their goal, and had a tough 10 or 15 minutes at the start of the second half.
"But we showed character to win the game, changed tactics and changed players. Isco came on and assisted Ronaldo for the second goal. We got the three points, which was most important today. Now to see if we can make up points on the other teams."
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first La Liga goal of the season as Real Madrid beat Getafe.
Zidane's first 100 games as Madrid coach have now brought 75 wins, 17 draws and eight defeats, with 273 goals scored and 101 conceded, and an unprecedented seven trophies lifted.
"I have not changed, I remain the same," he said of his move into management. "The best memory now is having won this game, number 100."
Zidane admitted that club captain Sergio Ramos had been a doubt to start the game due to illness.
He said: "[Ramos] was vomiting a bit this morning, but did not have a temperature. He is fine now."
Vice-captain Marcelo praised Madrid's spirit in claiming victory.
"This is a difficult place to play, opponents are more motivated against Madrid, but we are good," he told beIN SPORTS after the final whistle. "We have been told their goal was offside, but that's not important. What was important was how we were able to read the game after conceding, and get the winner."
The Brazilian said that Ronaldo's late winner had shown that the club's record goal scorer generally came up with the goods when it was really needed.
"We know what Cristiano can give to Madrid," he added. "He has a lot of credit for all he has done for the club. When he must be there, he is there."
Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan
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Source: espn.co.uk