Both Getafe and Granada will be aiming to recover from back-to-back defeats when they clash at the Coliseum on Monday evening.
While the hosts occupy a spot in mid-table, their visitors remain mired in trouble near the foot of La Liga.
Match preview
© Reuters
After recently seeing their Copa del Rey journey ended with a 3-1 home defeat to Sevilla in the last 16, Getafe have suffered successive home losses for the first time this season.
Los Azulones also slipped up against Rayo Vallecano earlier this month, but the Coliseum had previously proved a tough place for away sides to visit: they have lost just once at home in La Liga, while averaging two points per game.
Indeed, the capital club had not been beaten in any of their previous 11 as hosts, racking up seven league wins in the process, so head coach Pepe Bordalas will hope to get his side back on track this week.
Last time out, Getafe came up just short after a rousing fightback away to Osasuna, with second-half strikes from Borja Mayoral and Nemanja Maksimovic hauling them level before they conceded a third goal 10 minutes from full time - Jesus Areso deciding matters with a geometry-defying finish.
As a result, the Madrid side find their place in La Liga's top half at risk, and dreams of a return to UEFA competition are dimming. They are, though, unbeaten in four league meetings with Granada ahead of Monday's game, having lost five of the previous six.
© Reuters
Mayoral was on target again in November's reverse fixture down in Andalucia, where Granada's Gonzalo Villar then produced an equaliser to earn his team a point.
After losing to Atletico Madrid last time out, Los Nazaries have accrued just 10 more all season, with only one arriving on the road, so they sit 19th in the table, five points adrift of 17th-placed Sevilla.
Continuing a trend which precedes his reign, Alexander Medina has been beaten in each of his first three away matches as Granada coach, taking the team's tally to 11 La Liga road trips without a win - they have lost no fewer than 10 times during that run.
The Andalucian side were promoted back to Spain's top flight last year, courtesy of topping the Segunda Division, but their bid to consolidate such status has since faltered.
Medina may have just added Club Brugge full-back Faitout Maouassa to his squad on loan, but Granada - who concede an average of two goals per game - could need more defensive reinforcements if they are to defy the drop.
Team News
© Reuters
Not only will Getafe be without the suspended pair of Luis Milla and Jose Angel Carmona on Monday, Damian Suarez must serve the second game of his two-match ban.
While Jaime Mata and Juanmi Latasa are both back after suspension, Pepe Boradlas is still missing long-term injury absentee Mauro Arambarri and Ilaix Moriba, the latter of whom recently arrived on loan from RB Leipzig but is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Guinea.
Sure to start up front, Borja Mayoral has scored in his previous two games against Granada in La Liga; the ex-Roma striker should be partnered by either Juanmi or Enes Unal.
Meanwhile, Granada can welcome Kamil Piatkowski back after he missed out on their loss to Atleti, but several players will be unavailable to Alexander Medina.
Jesus Vallejo joins Raul Fernandez on the sidelines due to injury, while midfielder Martin Hongla and Argentinian striker Lucas Boye are both ruled out by suspension.
To cover the absence of Boye, Myrto Uzuni could take up a more central role - alternatively, Jose Callejon or Matias Arezo may be promoted from the bench.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Alderete, Alvarez, Rico; Mata, Djene, Maksimovic, Greenwood; Unal, Mayoral
Granada possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ricard, Mendez, Miquel, Neva; Gumbau, Ruiz, Villar; Zaragoza, Uzuni, Callejon
We say: Getafe 2-0 Granada
The contrast between Getafe's home record and Granada's woes on their travels is quite stark: the visitors are rarely able to make an impact away from Andalucia, so their hosts should coast to victory at the Coliseum.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
