The leader seeks to save another trap game against Getafe

With the pass to the Champions League semi-finals well underway after the 1-3 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Real Madrid resumes its work in the League to face another trick game against Getafe. Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who meet again with the Santiago Bernabéu after the embarrassment of the classic and next Sunday will have to tackle a delicate exit to Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, aspires to give another blow to the domestic championship by tying the three points against one of the three rivals that have been able to beat him this season in the regular tournament.

The azulón team, which opened the year by giving the bell against the whites at the Alfonso Pérez Coliseum, appears in the Chamartín fiefdom with the aim of continuing to add to certify its permanence in the elite and hopes to take advantage of the wear and tear in London of the First Division leader to end the streak of twelve consecutive defeats at home that accumulates against its powerful neighbor from the Community of Madrid.

Combating the possible drop in tension of a squad that fired endorphins again in their fetish competition is one of Ancelotti’s main concerns. «Leaving the physical aspect, which I think we are going to recover well, the mental aspect is much more complicated. If you don’t have to say anything to prepare for the match on the mental profile against Chelsea, you only have to focus on strategy and approach, here you have to push a little more to give the players the concentration and motivation they need these types of matches. Getafe is a rival who beat us in January. It is mandatory to have the respect it deserves, “said the coach, who is very aware of that stumble on a sunny Christmas noon.

A gross error by Militao, almost the only blemish to date in the extraordinary campaign that the authoritarian Brazilian central defender is completing, led to an early goal by Enes Ünal that left a team that had just been proclaimed winter champions unanswered, but that saw stopped in fifteen the series of games without sinking the knee that he had chained between all competitions since Espanyol put the first banderillas of the course at the beginning of October. That fiasco at the Coliseum did not happen again, until Barça overwhelmed the Santiago Bernabéu two days ago.

The tight and controversial victory last week in Vigo allowed the leader to maintain the lead over his triumvirate of pursuers, which presents Barça as the most threatening figure, given that the azulgranas keep the extra ball from the postponed match against Rayo. But Ancelotti is aware that the most important thing remains: to finish the job. “We have an advantage in the league and we reach the final stretch in a very good position. We have made the cake, now we have to put the icing on it, ”recalled the one from Reggiolo.

Distribution of efforts

The Battle of Stamford Bridge has raised the morale of the troops, but has sapped their health. Militao’s knee gave the scare and Mendy ended up exhausted. The Brazilian trained on Friday without any problems, although Ancelotti will not play against the Frenchman, which will give Marcelo or Nacho space on the left-back. With Jovic and Hazard in dry dock, the convenience of managing efforts gives good cards to Lucas Vázquez and Asensio or Rodrygo as refreshments on the right wing. Valverde and Camavinga struggle to give air to Modric and Kroos in midfield. It will be more difficult for Benzema and Vinicius to have a truce, who missed the first round clash at the Coliseum due to the coronavirus and whose overflow missed his team that day.

Containing the full Lyon striker and the effervescent Brazilian winger will be two of Getafe’s main goals, which have a poor record as visitors. The azulón is the only First team that has not yet won any away games this season and is also the one that has scored the fewest goals away from home: eight. Despite this, Quique Flores, who has Arambarri and Janko out due to suspension, and Mata due to injury, does not lose hope of causing the surprise again. “It’s a game with nothing to lose,” said the man from Madrid.