Real Madrid has the opportunity to move to the top of La Liga when they travel to the Coliseum for their La Liga clash with Getafe on Thursday.
Currently sitting in second place, one point behind Girona, Real Madrid will face Getafe, who are in 10th position.
Match preview
After losing to Sevilla and Osasuna in the Copa del Rey and league respectively, Getafe returned to winning ways in Monday’s clash with Granada.
Mason Greenwood scored the opening goal, and Borja Mayoral took advantage of a mistake from Granada goalkeeper Augusto Batalla to secure Getafe’s victory.
With seven wins, eight draws, and six losses in their 21 league matches, Getafe comfortably sits in midtable, with hopes of improving their previous 15th-place finishes.
Getafe has proven to be strong at home, with six wins, three draws, and only one defeat in their 10 home league games.
They have conceded only six goals at the Coliseum this season and will rely on their defensive resilience against Real Madrid, who are the second-highest scorers in the league.
Getafe is hoping to secure their first victory against Real Madrid since January 2022, as they have lost their last four meetings.
Real Madrid recently came from two goals down to beat Almeria 3-2 and had to produce another comeback in their away clash with Las Palmas.
After falling behind in the 53rd minute, Real Madrid turned the game around with goals from Vinicius Junior and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Following their successful trip to Gran Canaria, Real Madrid has won five consecutive matches in La Liga and is unbeaten in 15 league games since their only defeat of the season against Atletico Madrid in September.
Before their third meeting with Atletico in a month, Real Madrid must first face a challenging away game against Getafe.
If Real Madrid can secure their 18th league victory of the season, they will overtake Girona and move to the top of the table in their pursuit of their 36th La Liga title.
Real Madrid should not underestimate Getafe, as they have dropped points in three of their last five away meetings with them. However, Real Madrid did record a narrow 1-0 victory during their most recent visit to the Coliseum in October 2022.
Getafe La Liga form: W W D L
Getafe form (all competitions): D L W L W
Real Madrid La Liga form: D W W W
Real Madrid form (all competitions): W W W L W W
Team News
Getafe will be without the injured Mauro Arambarri, while Ilaix Moriba is representing Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Damian Suarez, Jose Angel Carmona, and Luis Milla will be available for selection after serving their suspensions.
Borja Mayoral, who has scored 14 league goals this season, will be looking to continue his scoring streak against his former club.
Real Madrid will be missing Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and David Alaba, who are still recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
The goalkeeping duties may be given to Andriy Lunin, as Carlo Ancelotti has been rotating him with Kepa Arrizabalaga in recent weeks.
Jude Bellingham will return to the side after serving a one-match suspension, and Ancelotti is likely to recall Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric, Federico Valverde, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria;
Suarez;
Djene, Alderete, Rico;
Greenwood, Maksimovic, Milla, Alena;
Mayoral, Mata
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin;
Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy;
Valverde, Tchouameni, Modric,
Bellingham;
Vinicius, Rodrygo
Prediction: Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
Getafe has been strong at home this season, having lost only once in the league. They will pose a challenge for Real Madrid.
While Getafe may give Real Madrid a tough fight, we expect Real Madrid to have enough quality to secure maximum points in Thursday’s encounter.
