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Madrid. A provocative character himself, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho praised the Spanish leader’s patience and discipline as the keys to the best winning run of his career after the team’s 13th straight victory in all competitions.

But the Portuguese coach didn’t deny his team won ugly on Saturday, rallying to beat nine-man Atletico Madrid 4-1 in a fractious match for its ninth straight league victory.

That took Madrid six points clear after Barcelona lost 1-0 at Getafe for its first defeat this season. The team has never had such a sizeable lead over its main rival since Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola took charge in 2008.

Mourinho may have won two European Cups and domestic league and cup trophies during stints at FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, but he has never won so many consecutive games. Four of Madrid’s five victories in the Champions League group stage count toward the streak.

“We have played very well, we have always played with motivation,” Mourinho said from Santiago Bernabeu stadium. “We showed emotional control throughout, like tonight, and patience. The team knows that while we can play aggressively, we must also show patience.”

Keeping cool was particularly necessary in a match in which five Atletico players were booked besides the two straight red cards, to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Diego Godin, either side of the break.

“We didn’t want to play an ugly, tough game. But we played and we won,” the 48-year-old Mourinho said. “I would have liked it if we had played a nicer game, because if I’m a spectator and I paid I would have liked that more, but that’s the way it is.”

Mourinho has often been criticized for defensive tactics, but Madrid scored another four goals to take its season tally to 46 from 13 games. Madrid’s seventh straight win over Atletico pushed its 12-year unbeaten run against its city neighbor to 22 games.

Much of Spain is transfixed on Madrid’s winning run and whether it will still be going by the time of the Dec. 10 clasico match against defending champion Barcelona at the Bernabeu.

“A draw or loss will come,” Mourinho said. “But the important thing is that in these 13 games we’ve played well.”

After Adrian Lopez had given Atletico a 15th-minute lead, teammate and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was shown a straight red card for bringing Madrid striker Karim Benzema down inside the area. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the 24th-minute penalty.

Madrid winger Angel Di Maria marked his return from injury with a goal in the 49th, and substitute Gonzalo Higuain scored in the 65th.

Atletico defender Diego Godin was sent off for fouling Higuain, allowing Ronaldo to again score from a spot kick in the 82nd.

“This is the way that everyone wants to keep playing, going game to game,” Madrid captain Iker Casillas said. “It is a spectacular run, but now we have to think about our next rival.”

Meanwhile, Getafe’s defensive plan to stifle Barcelona’s vaunted attack succeeded where so many others had failed before Juan Valera powered in a corner in the 67th minute in his team’s only shot on goal.

Barcelona pressed for the equalizer and grew more dangerous as the game approached the final whistle, but couldn’t find the net. Lionel Messi almost snatched a point for his team when he hit the post in stoppage time.

Associated Press