The former Liverpool player, who scored the winners in the 1-0 victories over Dynamo Kiev and Valencia as well as weighing in with another in the midweek Cup victory over Leganes, got on the scoresheet with another well taken goal in the first half.

His Brazilian strike partner Ronaldo helped disguise what was a disappointing performance when he made it 2-0 11 minutes from time as Real scored more than once in a league match for the first time this season. Earlier, Real Zaragoza put a humiliating midweek King's Cup exit behind them with a sparkling 3-0 win at home to high-flying Sevilla that propelled them into fourth spot in the table.

The visitors' second defeat of the season meant they missed a chance to close the gap on Barcelona, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Barca lead the standings on 23 points from nine matches, six ahead of Sevilla and seven ahead of Real Madrid, Zaragoza and Levante who are all level on 16 points.

Levante, the surprise package of the early part of the season, inflicted a first home defeat this term on Osasuna with a spectacular goal from former Barca striker Sergio Garcia.

Getafe, who had lost all four previous away games this season, were certainly not intimidated by their illustrious neighbours at the Bernabeu.

Midfielder Mario Cotelo gave the home side an early scare when he fired a rasping shot over the bar from 20 metres in the 11th minute and were given another warning when striker Riki was given a clear header moments later.

The former Real Madrid youth player was then denied a goal by sharp stops from goalkeeper Iker Casillas as he drilled in two quick-fire shots from the edge of the area.

Real, missing midfielders David Beckham and Luis Figo, were slow to warm to the task and did not mount their first attack until midway through the half.

Zinedine Zidane curled a pass behind the Getafe defence towards Ronaldo but the Brazilian striker fired over the bar as he came under pressure from keeper Francisco Sanchez Broto.

Less than five minutes later, Owen grabbed his fourth goal in four games to put Real in front.

Ronaldo picked up a ricochet off a defender before sliding the ball into the path of his fellow striker who tucked a perfect right-foot shot past the keeper inside the far post.

But it was Getafe who continued to have the better of the game and had it not been for some outstanding goalkeeping from Casillas and desperate last-ditch defending they almost certainly would have caused an upset.

Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon looked as though he had settled for the narrow win when he replaced Owen with defensive midfielder Albert Celades 17 minutes from time, the change being greeted with a chorus of jeers by the Bernabeu.

But Ronaldo popped up at the far post to net a rebound after a Raul shot was parried into his path and put a rather better gloss on what had been a poor overall performance. It was the Brazilian superstar's 50th strike in the La Liga for Real Madrid.