8.25.2012

Preview: Getafe vs Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 2)

Real Madrid travels to the other side of the city to face their friendly rivals, Getafe. After the defeat against FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup first leg, the white team will look to consolidate on the league. Jose Mourinho’s team looks to be on a roll after the stinging criticism for their performace against Valencia in matchday 1 of the Spanish tournament.

Getafe vs Real Madrid

Getafe on the other hand have had a worst begining. They have been beaten by Sevilla, and the bad feelings are around the blue team. The Getafe club have undergone a major overhaul from top to bottom in all the lines with new players. In addition, with the summer market opened, there are several players on the squad who do not know their future. But, Luis Garcia (Getafe coach) is pleased with the last year results and wants to focus all the efforts to continue playing in the Spanish First Division.

Last time, both the sides faced each other, Real Madrid registered a victory with a Sergio Ramos' header. At that time Real Madrid consolidated a seven points gap with Barcelona.

Getafe

Last year Luis Garcia, tasted an improbable victory against Barcelona and will employ the same tactics he used. Against Real Madrid in the beginning of the last season, the blue team also had a great performance so probably Real Madrid will have to face a difficult match. Against weaker teams, Garcia prefers a 4-4-2 but against stronger opposition, the former Levante manager plays a 4-2-3-1, with his defenders statying deep and strikers relying on counter attacks to move forward. They will not give any space to the opposition and will not hesitate to commit fouls. But one thing which we can be sure of is that Getafe will not give up without a fight.

Getafe will be without their best centre-back of the last seasons, Cata Diaz, who moved to Atletico Madrid. Pedro Leon will not play the match because of the transfer conditions that Real Madrid set to allow the move this summer. Speaking on the match, Luis Garcia said: "We have to defend well against Ozil, Di Maria, Cristiano, Benzema, Higuain … because of they will give us a lot of problems with the ball. For that we must strike a balance between defense-attack, try to play one on one. We know Real Madrid is the current champion and will not leave us to play as we want".

Real Madrid

With Pepe out of the team, Albiol will partner Ramos at the centre of defense and Arbeloa will start as the right back. Coentrao will play for the third straight time as the left back. Marcelo is still not ready to play the whole match.

At the midfield some doubts. Xabi alonso and Khedira have two places in the starting lineup. Cristiano will play on the left side. The Portuguese is increasing his pace and looks better every match. Against Barcelona scored an important goal and has had great performances facing Getafe. There are three players fighting for the other two places: Özil has had two poor performances, Callejon was awarded with good words by Mourinho after the Super Cup match and Di Maria is in good shape as we saw in Barcelona.

As forward Benzema looks the Mourinho's choice. The Frenchman started the match against Barcelona and had a grey role defending the midfielders of the Catalonian team. He could not enjoy a goal opportunity but worked very hard for the team. Gonzalo Higuaín scored the first goal of the season against Valencia and played well the first twenty minutes of that match but then decreased his pace, as all the team, and showed a bad image. Against Barcelona only played the last minutes and could not play his best.

Getafe will hardly care about possession. Luis Garcia, even when he was with Levante, relied on his defense and counter attacks to stifle the opposition. He was successful in executing the same strategy against Barcelona at the Coliseum last year. Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid need to be efficient in front of the goal.

Expected Starting Lineups:
  • Getafe: Moya (GK); Valera, Abraham, Alexis, Miguel Torres; Xavi Torres, Lacen; Castro, Lafita, Barrada; Miku.
  • Real Madrid; Casillas (GK); Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Coentrao; Khedira, Xabi; Di Maria, Callejon, Ronaldo; Benzema.

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