Real Madrid are aiming to bounce back from a dreadful midweek defeat in the Champions League when they host Getafe in La Liga on Sunday afternoon.
Los Blancos produced another underwhelming performance as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, with Kylian Mbappe enduring a night to forget as he saw his penalty saved at Anfield. Jude Bellingham's admission that the Reds were "more up for it" on Wednesday evening will worry Madrid supporters.
Despite their European woes, the reigning La Liga champions have clawed Barcelona back in the title race during recent weeks. They still have a game in hand on the Catalan giants and must maintain the pressure on their rivals with victory over Getafe, especially after Las Palmas' shock victory on Saturday.
Sunday's visitors have struggled during the first few months of the campaign but head to the Santiago Bernabeu having won their last two matches in all competitions. Victory over fellow strugglers Real Valladolid was followed up with a 3-0 win against lower league Manises in the Copa del Rey midweek.
Here is 90min's guide to a crucial clash for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid vs Getafe H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
Real Madrid Getafe
Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid - 27/11/24 Manises 0-3 Getafe - 26/11/24
Leganes 0-3 Real Madrid - 24/11/24 Getafe 2-0 Real Valladolid - 22/11/24
Real Madrid 4-0 Osasuna - 09/11/24 Getafe 0-1 Girona - 10/11/24
Real Madrid 1-3 Milan - 05/11/24 Celta Vigo 1-0 Getafe - 04/11/24
Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona - 26/10/24 Getafe 1-1 Valencia - 27/10/24
Country TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom Premier Sports 2, Premier Sports Player, LaLigaTV
United States fuboTV, ESPN App, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
Canada TSN+, TSN2
Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti has a heap of injuries to contend with / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Madrid have been plenty unfortunate with injuries this season and are still without long-term absentees David Alaba, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal at the back. Vinicius Junior is also missing in the forward line with a thigh injury, while Eduardo Camavinga sustained a hamstring issue in the defeat at Anfield.
Aurelien Tchouameni could return in midfield in some capacity but remains a significant doubt for the meeting with Getafe. However, Lucas Vazquez returned to action against Liverpool and will come in at right-back, while Rodrygo is in contention to feature on Sunday having been missing since the November international break.
Vazquez's return at right-back will allow emergency cover Federico Valverde to return to midfield and he will likely be partnered by Jude Bellingham and either Dani Ceballos or Luka Modric. After another howler on Wednesday evening, Ferland Mendy may lose his place in the XI to Fran Garcia at left-back.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Getafe (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Diaz, Endrick, Mbappe.
Dakonam Djene
Djene is suspended in defence / Denis Doyle/GettyImages
Getafe will be without the services of centre-half Djene and striker Bertug Yildirim through suspension after the duo received their fifth yellow cards of the season in the 2-0 win over Valladolid. The latter scored a brace in the Copa del Rey midweek and could be a big miss.
Former Barcelona man Carles Alena is missing with a muscle injury and ex-Madrid striker Borja Mayoral is facing a race to be fit for his return to the Bernabeu.
Pepe Bordalas will exercise caution on the road despite Madrid's iffy form and will likely utilise a 4-5-1 system over the 4-4-2 that tasted victory against Valladolid. Alvaro Rodriguez, on loan from Madrid, will lead the line solo as he's eligible to feature.
Getafe predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-5-1): Soria; Iglesias, Duarte, Alderete, Rico; Nyom, Milla, Arambarri, Uche, Perez; Rodriguez.
Getafe are the division's lowest scorers after 14 league matches but don't tend to concede too many. In fact, they've allowed the same number as Madrid this season despite having played one more match than Sunday's opponents.
Injuries throughout the Madrid team offer Getafe a glimmer of hope in a fixture they have lost five times in a row but Ancelotti still has a wealth of world-class options at his disposal. Even a disjointed and injury-stricken Madrid side should secure victory to pile pressure on league leaders Barca.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe
READ THE LATEST LA LIGA NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
Related Topics