BARCELONA, Spain -Kaka returned to action for the first time since the World Cup, entering in the 75th minute of Real Madrid's 3-2 win at Getafe on Monday night in the Spanish league.
The 28-year-old midfielder, the 2007 FIFA player of the year for AC Milan, had not played in a match since July 2, when Brazil lost to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals. He left Real Madrid during its preseason tour in California following medical tests and had left knee surgery on Aug. 5.
"There were moments during my recovery when I didn't know if I would every play again," he said. "Now that is over and I hope to get steady playing time so I can continue recovering my form."
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, raising his season total for Madrid to a league-leading 19 goals and 27 in 25 games in all competitions. He converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute and scored Madrid's final goal in the 57th.
Madrid finished a man short after Alvaro Arbeloa was ejected in the 82nd for his second yellow card, given for a hand ball.
Mesut Oezil gave Madrid a 2-0 lead in the 19th. Daniel Parejo scored for Getafe in the 29th and Jorge Angel Albin in the 84th.
"I did not like my team," Real coach Jose Mourinho said. "Normally we are much more compact and concentrated. My team has to defend better. That is its identity."
Barcelona (15-1-1) leads with 46 points, two ahead of Real Madrid (14-1-2).
Elsewhere, third-place Villarreal defeated Almeria 2-0 on goals by Jose Manuel Catala and Borja Valero. American forward Jozy Altidore entered as an 83rd-minute substitute for the Yellow Submarine.
Mallorca beat Hercules 3-0 for its first win in four weeks, Atletico Madrid tied 0-0 with Racing Santander and Zaragoza defeated Real Sociedad 2-1.
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LONDON (AP) — American goalkeeper Brad Guzan celebrated the first victory of his loan stint at Hull in a 3-2 victory over Portsmouth on Monday in England's second-tier League Championship.
The 26-year-old was beaten from the penalty spot when Liam Lawrence tied it for Portsmouth in the 57th minute. Hull was ahead 3-1 on goals by Jimmy Bullard, Matt Fryatt and Nick Barmby when Greg Halford sent a header past Guzan in the 76th.
Hull is 15th in the League Championship, six points off the playoff places for promotion to the Premier League.
Guzan was sent to Hull last week on a one-month loan by Aston Villa and lost 1-0 to Leicester in his debut Saturday.
He joined Villa from Major League Soccer's Chivas USA in August 2008 but has been unable to oust fellow American Brad Friedel from the starting lineup. Guzan is a backup to Everton's Tim Howard on the U.S. national team.
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