First Real Madrid game without Cristiano Ronaldo sees worst attendance for nine years

A crowd of only 48,466 turned out for the European champions' La Liga opener, the lowest since 2009

Real Madrid started life without Cristiano Ronaldo with a win but with the worst attendance at the Bernabeu for nine years.

The hosts bounced back from their Uefa Super Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid with victory over Getafe thanks to goals in either half from Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale.

But a crowd of only 48,466 turned out for the European champions' La Liga opener, the lowest since 2009.

Coincidentally that game, a 3-1 win over Mallorca to close out the 2008/09 season was the last game before Ronaldo's £80m arrival from Manchester United.

Real are still coming to terms with the Portuguese's exit after the 33-year-old swapped Madrid for Juventus in a £89m move earlier this summer.

Thibaut Courtois represents the highest-profile incoming since but new coach Julen Lopetegui left his new signing on the bench, with Keylor Navas continuing in goal.

A crowd of only 48,466 watched on Sunday evening (REUTERS)

Defender Carvajal was the unexpected source of the first goal after 20 minutes, looping a header over David Soria following the goalkeeper's weak attempt to punch away a Bale cross from the left.

The Welshman, who will be expected to shoulder much of the scoring burden in the post-Ronaldo era, doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, lashing home a low finish at the back post after a low cross from Marco Asensio.