Real Madrid vs Getafe

Soon-to-be-former La Liga champions Real Madrid entertain perennial relegation candidates Getafe at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Following an exhausting 1-1 home draw against Manchester City in midweek Champions League action, Carlo Ancelotti could rest numerous first-team stars, considering Real Madrid’s hopes of defending the league title are long gone. After losing twice in their last three La Liga outings (W1), ‘Los Blancos’ start this round in third and could mathematically secure a top-four finish with a win here. Even a second-string line-up could be up to the task, given that the hosts boast an eye-catching win ratio of 71.4% against Getafe in La Liga (GP35 – W25, D4, L6), including victories in their last 13 top-flight H2Hs at home, 11 of which yielded multi-goal margins. However, ‘Los Merengues’ are winless in two of their most recent La Liga meetings with fellow Madrid rivals (D1, L1).

As for Getafe, last weekend’s narrow 1-0 home triumph over Celta Vigo helped snap a six-game winless run in La Liga (D2, L4) and stay level on points with 17th-placed Valencia at the start of this round. Conceding first could send Getafe to a road with no return, as they’ve gone winless in all nine away league matches after falling behind this season (D2, L7). Speaking of their form woes away from home, Jose Bordalas’ men have failed to win any of their last ten La Liga fixtures on the road (D3, L7). But they can draw some confidence from drawing their three most recent Madrid derbies in the top flight. Bordalas wouldn’t mind sharing the spoils at the Bernabeu, even though it would see Getafe become the first club to register four consecutive draws in Madrid derbies in La Liga.