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This was supposed to be a good week for Real Madrid. We were supposed to see the kids beat up on a lower division side in the club's cup opener followed by a comfortable win versus Getafe on the weekend. Instead, the club embarrassed itself by fielding an ineligible Denis Cheryshev and was booted out of the Copa delRey so now the spotlight is fully on them as they welcome a half-decent Getafe.
Getafe currently sits on 14 points in 14th place, tied with Rayo on points but behind them based on goal differential. This isn't a bad spot for them when considering that many had them as a relegation candidate, so Madrid shouldn't expect a cakewalk of a win versus a side that has nothing to lose. Statistically, they don't really do anything well except for create shots on target (4.1/game) from the few shots they take (11.2/game) . Call it lucky, call it efficient, call it whatever you will but given that Madrid's back four is a mish-mash of backups we could see Getafe nab a fluke goal to make things interesting.
Getafe is paced by Stefan Scepovic and Alvaro Vazquez with three goals apiece with Vazquez chipping in three assists to boot. They're a wide team that likes to exploit the flanks and they will look to exploit the wide gaps Madrid often leaves while searching for goals in attack. The problem is that as decent as their play can be at times it has let them down in recent play as they've won only one in their last six matches and are coming off a 2-0 loss to Ray in the Copa del Rey midweek.
Madrid, on the other hand, isn't faring much better despite the results going their way following the drumming at Barca's hands. A nervy win versus Shakhtar in the Champions League was followed by a 2-0 win versus Eibar criticized for not being more exciting. Then we had the midweek "victory" versus Cadiz which was tainted by the Cheryshev eligibility controversy. Even when this team wins they find a way to be labeled as losers.
On the pitch, we should expect the return of the BBC as all three players were rested midweek and the midfield should be more or less a combination of Luka Modric and at least one of Toni Kroos, Casemiro or James Rodriguez. Isco will be suspended for this match so Mateo Kovacic will be taking his spot. The defense, however, will only see Danilo as a semi-regular starter. Nacho, Pepe and Alvaro Arbeloa will be filling in for the injured Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo so pray to whatever god(s) you hold dear that nothing happens to any of them.
Overall, on paper this should be a breeze for Madrid as they'll surely want to put on a show for the fans with everything that has been going on recently. In reality, who knows anymore with this club.
Real Madrid possible XI: Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho, Arbeloa; Kroos, Casemiro; Rodriguez, Modric, Bale; Ronaldo
Getafe possible XI: Guaita; Suarez, Cala, Alexis, Lago; Yoda, Lacen; Sarabia, V Rodriguez, Lafita; Vazquez
