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La Liga Preview: Real Madrid – Getafe
The pressure does not let up for Real Madrid as they take on rivals Getafe on Saturday…
| Bet: | Returns: | Rayo Vallecano £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Getafe £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rayo Vallecano £25.00 | Draw £30.00 | Getafe £30.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rayo Vallecano £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Getafe £27.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rayo Vallecano £25.00 | Draw £30.00 | Getafe £30.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rayo Vallecano £24.50 | Draw £32.00 | Getafe £26.50 |
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Oct 30, 2009 5:16:22 PM
Kick-off: Saturday, October 31, 2009, 18:00 CET.
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Domestic Abuse
Truth be told, the last thing Real Madrid want to do after being dismantled by Segunda B outfit Alcorcon in their midweek Copa del Rey match is be subjected to the often fickle and ruthless nature of their own fans.
A 4-0 drubbing to the south west Madrid minnows prompted high-ranking club officials and players, including Florentino Perez, Jorge Valdano and Raul to apologise to the fans for such a poor showing. But given the amount of drama that has enveloped the Spanish giants in the past week, one gets the feeling that no amount of apologising will lessen the wrath of the Madridismo that has yet to be felt.
Manuel Pellegrini is now on very thin ice as Madrid try to recover both form and confidence. The matches against cross-town rivals Getafe and next week’s Champions League bout against Milan will likely serve as a test for 'El Ingeniero’s' continuity. Should Los Blancos fail to offer an image fitting of the mighty Real Madrid on Saturday, the white handkerchiefs could be out early.
Biting the Hand that Fed Them
Sporting a number of former Real Madrid youth players, including Roberto Soldado, Miguel Torres and Dani Parejo, as well as a former Real Madrid player and youth coach Michel, some have thought of Getafe more as a Madrid B team in the first division rather than as their own independent outfit.
But despite the former players and the fact that club president Angel Torres is an outspoken Real Madrid supporter, there is no love lost between these two sides and matches between them are often open and entertaining affairs. Few can forget the wild events of last season’s match at the Bernabeu, when Pepe was sent off for a malicious kick on Javier Casquero. Madrid went on to narrowly escape with the full three points thanks to a 92nd minute winner by Higuain.
As Getafe prepare for this Saturday’s match they will be very eager to avenge what, in the eyes of Los Azulones, was an unjust loss.
FORM GUIDE
Real Madrid
Oct 27 Alcorcon 4-0 Real Madrid (Copa del Rey)
Oct 24 Sporting de Gijon 0-0 Real Madrid (Liga)
Oct 21 Real Madrid 2-3 Milan (Champions)
Oct 17 Real Madrid 4-2 Valladolid (Liga)
Oct 4 Sevilla 2-1 Real Madrid (Liga)
Getafe
Oct 28 Getafe 2-0 Espanyol (Copa del Rey)
Oct 25 Getafe 2-0 Athletic (Liga)
Oct 18 Mallorca 3-1 Getafe (Liga)
Oct 4 Getafe 2-1 Osasuna (Liga)
Sept 27 Zaragoza 3-0 Getafe (Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid
The highly publicised clash between Guti and Pellegrini in the Copa del Rey match continues to spill over into the weekend; the Spanish midfielder has been dropped from the squad. The Chilean coach claims that Guti has picked up an injury though the player has denied such a knock exists. Christoph Metzelder and Royston Drenthe have also been dropped from the squad list while Cristiano Ronaldo and Ezequiel Garay continue to be out with injury.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-2-2): Casillas – Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo – Xabi Alonso, Gago – Lass, Kaka, – Benzema, Higuain
Getafe
After missing out of the midweek Copa del Rey match with injury, Miguel Torres makes his return to face his former team. David Belenguer also returns to the squad. Meanwhile, Franck Signorino, Lucas Licht, Kepa Blanco, Pedro Rios and Cosmin Contra have been excluded from the squad list. David Cortes picked up an injury in the midweek Copa del Rey match and is the only player who has been termed unfit for the match.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Ustari – Miguel Torres, Diaz, Belenguer, Mane – Leon, Celestini, Casquero, Parejo – Albin, Soldado
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Madrid
Kaka makes his return to the squad after being rested during midweek and the onus of leading the attack will fall on the inventive midfielder. The Brazilian has been disappointing in recent matches and Los Blancos desperately need him to find his form if they are to show an improvement in their play.
Pepe faces Getafe for the first time since his outburst last April and will hope to atone for his transgression with a solid evening. Gonzalo Higuain is also one worth watching as the Argentine striker is in high spirits after having finally broken into Diego Maradona’s Argentina national team.
Getafe
Former Real Madrid player and youth team manager Michel makes his return the Bernabeu and has insisted that he intends to show that it was Real Madrid who taught him all he knows about football. Expect former Real Madrid youth products Miguel Torres, Dani Parejo and Roberto Soldado to show their best against their childhood team.
Finally, Pedro Leon has been in exceptional form lately, making it clear why Michel insisted on signing him during the summer. Expect him to be a danger, especially on set plays.
PREDICTION
Matches between Real Madrid and Getafe are notoriously highly emotional affairs and this one should be no exception. For Madrid, the pressure is far greater as a recent dip in form will have their fans crying out for blood should Los Blancos fail to convince in the opening 45 minutes. If the Men in White are unable to put together entertaining play, limit their unforced errors, and find the back of the net in the first half, the Bernabeu could turn into more of an angry wasp’s nest rather than a stadium full of supportive fans. In a match that could shape the rest of the season, Madrid have no choice but to come out as the victors.
Real Madrid 3-2 Getafe
Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com
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