Real Madrid are down to the prospect of a domestic double after a desperately disappointing exit in the Champions League – and a make-or-break week for them starts at Getafe.
By Karl Matchett
Ancelotti rumours on the rise
Carlo Ancelotti won’t be adding to his tally of European Cup triumphs this year after Los Blancos were dumped out of the competition by Arsenal – and if the latest media rumours are to be believed, it might be his last attempt to do so for a while. Real Madrid are considering the likes of Xabi Alonso to be head coach next season, while Brazil may well make another tilt at convincing the legendary Italian boss to take on the Seleção instead.
If he’s to make another exit from the Santiago Bernabéu, he’ll want to go out with some silverware. The Copa del Rey final lies ahead at the weekend against Bareclona, but Real Madrid remain in battle with the same opponent to win LaLiga too – there’s seven points between them, Real chasing, with six left to play.
An obliging opponent
What could be better-timed, then, than an opponent who regularly roll over when Madrid come to town?
Getafe are neatly placed in 12th, not quite an irrelevance for the rest of the season given how tight-packed the bottom half of the table is, but surely good enough to claim the points they need for another season of survival. Meanwhile, they have lost the last six league meetings of these two teams, scoring precisely two goals in the process. In fact, it’s 13 matches between them and just the two goals – goalless draws in 2019 and 2021 boosts Getafe’s points tally from these encounters to five points in seven years.
Recent form
The hosts have lost three of their last four including against two teams lower in the table than them. At home, it’s one win in seven, dating back to before Christmas. Real lost in midweek and have now taken only two wins in six themselves across all competitions – but it’s still three wins in four away from home, the exception being the trip to Arsenal.
Team news
Diego Rico is back from suspension for Getafe, but Christantus Uche must serve one himself. Allan Nyom might miss out with a knock. For Real, Kylian Mbappé is also back from a ban but is an injury doubt, with Ferland Mendy hoping to recover to feature. Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal are the long-term absentees.
Key man
Some rotations might be on show for Real ahead of the final but Rodrygo may start due to absences – he’s five without a goal or assist so needs an upturn in form. Given across the past year he’s ranked higher than 74% of similar players for chances created and 78% for goals, he’s certainly due one or two.
Prediction
Nothing to deviate too far from the norm in this meeting, with Madrid staying in the title hunt as a result: Getafe 1 Real Madrid 3.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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