Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they make the trip to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday evening to face Getafe.
Los Blancos were held to a 1-1 draw by Osasuna in the league last weekend, which saw them lose first spot in the table to Barcelona, while Getafe will enter the match off the back of a 3-2 home loss to Real Valladolid.
Match preview
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Getafe are in their sixth straight campaign at this level of football, finishing eighth, fifth and eighth between 2018 and 2020, but the last two seasons have been a struggle, claiming 15th and 16th respectively.
The Deep Blue Ones have found it difficult to show consistency in the early stages of this term, meanwhile, with a total of seven points from seven matches leaving them in 14th position in the table.
Getafe recorded back-to-back wins over Real Sociedad and Osasuna after a heavy defeat at Valencia on September 4, but they were unable to build on the victories, losing 3-2 at home to Real Valladolid last time out.
Quique Sanchez Flores's side will be aware of the size of the task awaiting them this weekend, but they will be the fresher of the two teams, as Real Madrid were in Champions League action on Wednesday night.
Getafe have only actually lost one of their last three league games with Los Blancos and recorded a 1-0 victory in the corresponding game between the two sides last term, with Real Madrid only picking up one point from their last two visits to Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Spain's top flight.
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Real Madrid, as mentioned, were in European action on Wednesday, making it three straight victories in the 2022-23 competition by beating Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Bernabeu.
Goals from Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior ultimately proved enough to overcome the Ukrainian giants, and Los Blancos are now in a commanding position in Group F ahead of their final three games in the section.
Los Blancos have won 10 of their 11 matches in all competitions this term, but they were knocked off the top of La Liga last weekend, having been held to a 1-1 draw by Osasuna.
Vinicius Junior sent Carlo Ancelotti's side into a 42nd-minute lead at Bernabeu, but Kike Garcia levelled the scores early in the second period, and the reigning champions were unable to find a second, which has left them second in the table, albeit with the same number of points as Barcelona (19).
Real Madrid will travel to Ukraine next week to face Shakhtar in the European Cup, while they have the small matter of El Clasico next weekend at home to Barcelona, and it will be fascinating to see which team is at the top of the table heading into the break for the 2022 World Cup.
Team News
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Getafe will have Luis Milla back from suspension for this match, and the 27-year-old is expected to come into the starting side in central midfield.
Both Mauro Arambarri and Jaime Seoane picked up injuries in the defeat to Real Valladolid last time out, which will rule them out of the contest with the Spanish champions.
Head coach Sanchez is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack, with Enes Unal and Borja Mayoral again set to play as the front two, while Carles Alena and Angel Algobia should retain their spots in midfield.
As for Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois has now missed the team's last two matches with a back injury, and the Belgium international has also been ruled out of this match.
Ancelotti is not taking any risks with the goalkeeper, so Andriy Lunin should keep his spot in the side, while Dani Ceballos is definitely out of the contest due to a hamstring problem, which could potentially sideline him until the early stages of 2023.
Real Madrid are otherwise in strong shape heading into the match, and there is likely to be a return for Luka Modric, who was an unused substitute against Shakhtar due to a recent injury.
Karim Benzema is not injured but has been left out of the squad for this game, which could see Rodrygo play through the middle.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Suarez, Dakonam, Duarte, Alvarez, Iglesias; Alena, Milla, Algobia; Unal, Mayoral
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius
We say: Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
This has the potential to be a tricky contest for Real Madrid, especially off the back of a Champions League game on Wednesday night. Getafe certainly have the tools to harm Los Blancos, but we are backing Ancelotti's side to secure all three points courtesy of a narrow success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
