Preview: Getafe vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news

Real Madrid will be aiming to make it five La Liga victories in a row when they travel to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday evening to take on Getafe.

Zinedine Zidane 's side are currently second in the table, one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid, while Getafe occupy 15th position, just four points outside of the relegation zone.

Match preview

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Getafe have finished eighth, fifth and eighth in their last three La Liga campaigns, but they are currently struggling towards the wrong end of the table, with a total of 30 points from 30 matches leaving them in 15th position, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing campaign for the club, and they will bring a five-game winless run into this weekend's contest, including a 1-0 loss to Cadiz last time out.

Jose Bordalas 's side have actually only picked up one victory in La Liga since January 20, and the fact that their next two in the league are against Real Madrid and Barcelona is an indication of the seriousness of the situation that they currently find themselves in.

Getafe's away record this season is the second-worst in Spain's top flight, picking up just 10 points from 14 matches, while they have lost their last three in the league against Los Blancos without scoring a goal.

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Real Madrid have certainly had their problems this season, but it could be a very successful end to the campaign for the club as they are battling for two major trophies.

Wednesday's goalless draw with Liverpool at Anfield saw them advance into the semi-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate success, and they will fancy their chances of overcoming Chelsea in the last four to advance to yet another European Cup final.

Zidane's team also picked up a huge result in La Liga last weekend as they ran out 2-1 winners over Barcelona in El Clasico to move into second position in the table.

Los Blancos are only a point behind leaders Atletico as things stand, and they have four winnable league fixtures coming up against Getafe, Cadiz, Real Betis and Osasuna.

Real Madrid are set to be without a number of important players this weekend through injury and suspension, but they have not lose to Getafe in La Liga since November 2008 and will fancy their chances of putting another three important points on the board to continue their winning run in Spain's top flight.

Getafe La Liga form:

W

L

D

D

D

L

Real Madrid La Liga form:

D

D

W

W

W

W

Real Madrid form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

D

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Team News

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Getafe will again be without the services of Erick Cabaco and Cucho Hernandez this weekend through injury, while Dario Poveda, Enes Unal and Sofian Chakla could also miss out.

Damian Suarez should return to the home side's starting XI, which would allow Allan Nyom to push into a position higher up the field, but there are not expected to be many changes to the side that started against Cadiz.

Jaime Mata should again lead the line with support from Carles Alena and Marc Cucurella, while Nemanja Maksimovic is expected to retain his spot in the middle of the park.

As for Real Madrid, Casemiro and Nacho will both serve suspensions this weekend, while Sergio Ramos is unavailable for selection as he recovers from a calf injury and coronavirus.

Raphael Varane had been tipped to make his return following a period out with coronavirus, but the indications are that the France international will again be absent, meaning that there could be a start in the middle of the defence for 21-year-old Victor Chust.

Lucas Vazquez is out for the season with a knee problem, but Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal are making strong progress in their recoveries, and the former could be on the bench for this match.

There has been some concern over the fitness of Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos, but the pair are expected to be in the starting XI on Sunday, while Alvaro Odriozola is also in line to feature.

Getafe possible starting lineup:

Soria; Suarez, Timor, Dakonam, Olivera; Arambarri, Maksimovic; Nyom, Alena, Cucurella; Mata

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Odriozola, Militao, Chust, Mendy; Modric, Valverde, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius

We say: Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid will be without a number of important players on Sunday, which should hand Getafe confidence, but the home side are in such disappointing form, meaning that it is difficult to back them. We are expecting a tight game this weekend but believe that the champions will do enough to secure another three points.

Top tip

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