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Real Madrid logo
La Liga
May 23, 2015 at 7.30pm UK
 
Getafe logo

7-3

Ronaldo (13', 32', 34' pen.), Hernandez (47'), Rodriguez (51'), Jese (71'), Marcelo (90')
FT(HT: 3-3)
Escudero (22'), Castro (26'), Lacen (42')

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Getafe

Sports Mole looks ahead to the final day of La Liga as Real Madrid look to finish a trophiless season on a high in the visit of Getafe.

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

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid CF holds the UEFA Champions League cup celebrating their victory on the UEFA Champions League Final match against Club Atletico de Madrid at Cibeles square on the early morning of May, 25, 2014© Getty Images

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

Emiliano Velazquez for Getafe on January 21, 2015© AFP

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

Karim Benzema for Real Madrid on November 26, 2014© Getty Images

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.



Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



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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.



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Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match Juventus vs Real Madrid on May 5, 2015
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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