Real Madrid host Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in an end-of-season La Liga encounter of minimal importance for both sides.
Los Blancos are guaranteed to finish second behind champions Barcelona, while the visitors sit five points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the final game of the season.
Real Madrid
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The Real Madrid players will be relishing Saturday's visit of Getafe, but only because it's the last game of a testing season that has failed to produce any silverware.
Where it all went wrong for Carlo Ancelotti's side is anybody's guess. After embarking on a 22-match winning streak earlier in the season, it was suggested that a clean sweep of honours was on the cards, but that assessment has proven wide of the mark.
This time last month, the Blancos were firmly in contention for both the Champions League and La Liga, but a semi-final defeat to Juventus and a costly 2-2 draw with Valencia scuppered their bids in both competitions.
The regression will sting more given how Ancelotti led them to Champions League - their 10th European Cup - and Copa del Rey glory last term, and it remains to be seen if the Italian will survive.
By virtue of the fact that the club's hierarchy have swung the axe on coaches for less, Saturday may well represent Ancelotti's final trip to the Bernabeu as home coach.
Still, they thumped Espanyol 4-1 last week to stem the tide of negative results, with Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing another hat-trick for himself to move to 45 Liga goals for the season - four clear of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. He would prefer a winners' medal.
Recent form: WWWWDW
Recent form (all competitions): WWLDDW
Getafe
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Perhaps the main consolation for Pablo Franco Martin's side is that there is not enough time left in which to get relegated.
The Azulones will be just as happy as Real Madrid to see the back of a season that, for them, started to peter out when the threat of relegation lifted.
Back-to-back wins over Deportivo La Coruna and Elche at the beginning of April has lessened the need for points at the Bernabeu, but they have not won in seven.
The 1-1 draw at home with Eibar last weekend brought the end of a five-match losing streak - a point that took them five clear of the relegation zone.
Getafe can relax, but they are likely to ultimately survive the drop by two points if they lose at the Bernabeu and such a tenuous margin is bound to worry Franco Martin.
Recent form: LLLLLD
Team News
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Striker Karim Benzema will not face Getafe after suffering a hamstring injury on Thursday.
Instead, Javier Hernandez, on loan from Manchester United, could deputise as the spearhead with Ronaldo and Gareth Bale beside him in support.
Sergio Ramos is also expected to miss the clash with the calf problem that kept him out of the win at Espanyol.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti will serve the second of a two-match touchline ban.
Alvaro Vazquez is the only fresh absentee and, with Roberto Lago out through suspension, Carlos Vigaray could come in to partner Naldo at centre-back.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; James, Kroos, Isco; Ronaldo, Bale, Hernandez
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Alexis, Naldo, Valero, Carlos Vigaray, Escudero; Lacen, Rodriguez; Hinestroza, Castro, Leon; Diawara
Head To Head
Ominously, Real Madrid have won 11 of the last 12 meetings since the turn of the decade, with a 2-1 defeat at Getafe in 2012 the last time that the visitors have upset the odds. Getafe have won just five of 21 meetings. Ronaldo scored twice in a 3-0 win from the reverse fixure.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Real Madrid 5-0 Getafe
With nothing to play for, the hosts may just remove the shackles and take their frustrations of recent weeks out on Getafe. We reckon that Real and Ancelotti will give the fans a show on Saturday and bookend a disappointing season with a rousing victory.
Shane Callaghan
