Real Madrid vs Getafe
They’ve already significantly damaged the hopes of a fellow European chasing rival, thanks to a Jaime Mata double.
Now they go in search of a Champions League spot of their own and need to damage the La Liga hopes of the league leaders to progress.
Standing in the way of Getafe, however, is the mighty Real Madrid and, on current form, few would back against them.
Talking Points
Since returning to football, Real have avoided any errors and have managed to pick up maximum points (15) from their first five games back and regain top spot in the process.
In contrast, previous leaders and reigning champions Barcelona have dropped points twice – albeit in tough away assignments – meaning Real do not need to win all of their remaining games to be champions.
However, Zinedine Zidane’s team do not seem in the mood to take their foot off the gas and have equalled their best winning streak this season with five consecutive wins.
In the words of their matchwinner against Espanyol last weekend, Casemiro, it’s a case of taking it game by game.
If the focus has been on the Brazilian, considered an unsung hero, over the last few days, then over much of the season it has been on last summer’s star signing Eden Hazard and frontman Karim Benzema.
Hazard hasn’t played much but an interesting statistic to emerge this week was that in 14 matches to date, accumulating 1,008 minutes, the Belgian has been on the receiving end of 44 fouls – an average of a foul once every 23 minutes.
That could explain why his club feels he is being unfairly targeted by the opposition.
One man who has hardly taken any plaudits, though, is a former Chelsea team-mate in Thibaut Courtois.
Indeed, it has gone largely unnoticed that Courtois took his tally of clean sheets to 15 in 29 La Liga games at the weekend – figures which put him in the top five across Europe’s top leagues.
Currently, he is tied with Bayern Munich shot-stopper Manuel Neuer, but the Bundesliga is now over and Courtois has six games left to improve his own record.
Any title-winning side needs a spine and in Courtois, Real Madrid are now seeing why they invested so heavily in the goalkeeper nearly two years ago.
Zidane thinks the destination of the title will go down to the final weekend of the season and certainly the French manager will not take this encounter for granted – especially as for the second season in a row Getafe have defied the doubters and delivered another super campaign.
Of course, the Basque club could never match Real’s financial power but the fact Jose Bordalas’ side has managed to stay in the top six yet again is impressive indeed.
Assembled for a fraction of the cost, it is also worth noting that the club’s success continues on minimal gate receipts –its Coliseum, Alfonso Perez stadium has a capacity of just 17,000 and rarely draws crowds of more than 12,000.
If Getafe, already in the last 16 of this season’s Europa League, reach the Champions League they will be my team of the season.
If they do not, they will still have enjoyed a fine campaign.
One thing I am certain about though is that this contest will be a lot more entertaining than the last meeting between the sides I watched just over 14 months ago.
An end-of-season goalless draw which produced few La Liga highlights.
History
In 29 meetings between the sides, Getafe have tasted defeat on 21 occasions with a further three draws.
Of their five victories, the most recent was in August 2012 when Gonzalo Higuain fired Real in front before Valera and Abdelaziz Barrada turned the match around and caused a shock.
The last time and indeed the only time Getafe have won on Real turf was in February 2008 when Ikechukwu Uche netted the only goal in another major shock.
The only surviving Real player from that day is the now Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
The managers that day were Bernd Schuster (Madrid) and Michael Laudrup (Getafe).
This corresponding fixture last season saw Real triumph 2-0, thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale.
Earlier this season, at the turn of the year, Madrid were 3-0 winners at Getafe with Raphael Varane and Luka Modric adding to a first-half own goal.
Betting Tip
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Real Madrid vs Getafe | Real Madrid First Half Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.38 |
| July 03, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
For all of Getafe’s heroics, this really is a clash of David and Goliath when you compare the respective resources and you cannot bet against a Real win – and the SBOBET La Liga betting odds reflect that.
1X2 Real @ 1.39, 1X2 Getafe @ 7.80 is proof of that with the draw out @ 4.80.
A repeat of the encounter last season – correct score 2-0 – is available to back @ 6.00.
My expectation is for Real to lead and ultimately win, from the outset.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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