Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker:
Looking to reclaim their spot at the top of the La Liga table, Real Madrid will travel across the capital on Thursday night when they meet Getafe.
Getafe
Starting with the hosts, managing to make a crucial return to winning ways earlier in the week as they secured a 2-0 victory against Granada, Getafe will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. However, although the Blues might have found a route into the top-half of the La Liga table, Jose Bordalas’ side are seeking some recent top-flight stability. Opening the New Year with a 2-0 defeat at home against Rayo Vallencao, the Azulones have won just a pair of their previous six appearances against La Liga opposition. Crashing out of the Copa del Rey on January 16th following a 3-1 drumming at the hands of Sevilla, Getafe will be bracing themselves for a heavyweight challenge here. Hit with a 2-1 defeat when they travelled to the Bernabeu for their reverse top-flight meetings against Real Madrid on September 2nd, Bordalas’ men hold a nightmare record against the title contenders. In fact, Getafe have remarkably won just one of their previous 20 straight meetings a run that stems all the way back to August 2012.
Team News
Still away with Guinea at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations, Getafe will once again be without 21-year-old midfielder Ilaix Moriba here. However, after serving their own respective one-match suspensions, the duo of Mauro Arambarri and Luis Milla are free to make their returns in midweek.
Heavily linked with a potential Premier League switch, attacking talisman Borja Mayoral will have a leading role to play in midweek. Finding the net against Granada earlier in the week and notching a fourth La Liga strike of the season, Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood will partner Mayrol in the final third.
Real Madrid
As for the visitors, mounting another stunning late comeback away at Las Palmas last week as they snatched a 2-1 victory, Real Madrid find themselves tipped as a standout contender to reclaim their La Liga crown in 2024. Although Los Blancos might have watched their Copa del Rey adventure come to an abrupt end following a 4-2 defeat against bitter local rivals Atletico on January 18th, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have continued to shine this season. Breezing their way to a Champions League knockout stage ticket last month, the one-time AC Milan boss will be calling on his superstar squad to make another statement here. Opening Thursday’s showdown sat just one-point adrift of climbing back to the top of the table, Madrid have won nine of their previous 10 appearances across all competitions a run that stems back to a 1-1 stalemate against Real Betis on December 9th. Likewise, suffering just a single La Liga showdown this season, Ancelotti’s men have also lost just a sole domestic contest away from the Bernabeu since the end of September.
Team News
All still dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Real Madrid will once again be without the services of David Alaba, Eder Militao and former Chelsea shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois on Thursday night.
However, in what is a welcomed boost for Los Blancos, England international Jude Bellingham will make a full return after serving a one-match suspension. Once again finding the net away at Las Palmas last weekend and now bagging five goals in his previous four domestic appearances across all competitions, Brazilian ace Vinicius Junior will spearhead Ancelotti’s charge.
Key Factors to Consider
