Real Madrid will continue their La Liga title bid when they travel to the South of the Spanish capital for Wednesday's meeting with Getafe at the Coliseum.
Los Blancos are sitting in second place and four points adrift of Barcelona, while Getafe will head into the midweek fixture in 12th position.
Match preview
Getafe are in a mid-table position after winning 10, drawing nine and losing 13 of their 12 La Liga matches this season.
Three of those 13 defeats have taken place in Getafe's last four outings, including back-to-back losses following their commanding 4-0 win over Real Valladolid earlier this month.
After losing 3-1 at home to Las Palmas, the Azulones fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Espanyol in a game where they were reduced to 10 men following Christantus Uche's 60th-minute red card for a dangerous challenge.
Crucially, Getafe still boast a nine-point cushion to the drop zone, but rather than looking over their shoulders, they may be harbouring ambitions of securing Conference League qualification, with four points separating them from the top eight.
If they are to mount a late European push, Getafe will need to improve upon their underwhelming home form, having won just one of their last seven league matches at the Coliseum (D2, L4), although they can draw some inspiration from the fact that their only victory in that period took place against third-placed Atletico Madrid.
However, beating Atleti's biggest rivals will prove to be a tougher task, especially as they have lost each of their last six meetings with Real Madrid since recording a 2-0 home victory in January 2022.
In fact, they have failed to score in five of those six defeats, including their last two home games against Los Blancos.
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Real Madrid are focused on their quest to complete a domestic double after the defence of their Champions League trophy was ended in their recent quarter-final tie against Arsenal.
The Gunners backed up a 3-0 first leg win with a 2-1 victory in last Wednesday's return fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the disappointing exit fuelling speculation that Carlo Ancelotti will leave his post at the end of the season.
Ancelotti looked set to experience more frustration in Sunday's home La Liga clash against Athletic Club until Federico Valverde netted a stunning 93rd-minute winner to clinch a dramatic 1-0 victory, leaving Los Blancos four points adrift of leaders Barcelona ahead of the midweek round of fixtures.
Los Blancos will continue the defence of their league title in their midweek away meeting with Getafe, but they will also have one eye on Saturday's Copa del Rey final against El Clasico rivals Barcelona in Sevilla, where they will attempt to avenge the two heavy defeats that they have already suffered against Hansi Flick's side this term.
With Real Madrid eyeing Copa del Rey glory for the second time in three seasons, they will try to build momentum by completing a third consecutive league double over Getafe after recording a 2-0 victory in December's reverse fixture, courtesy of goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
Los Blancos have enjoyed success in their last two La Liga away games, claiming a 2-1 victory over Villareal before edging out Alaves via a 1-0 scoreline.
Wednesday's visitors now have the chance to record three successive away league wins for the first time since the end of last season.
Team News
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Getafe's medical team will have to assess Allan Nyom after he missed Friday's defeat to Espanyol with an injury issue.
Uche will miss the midweek fixture through suspension following his straight red card at the Stage Front Stadium.
The 21-year-old's absence could open the door for Juan Bernat to return to the starting lineup after the Villarreal loanee dropped down to the bench on matchday 32.
Diego Rico will come back into the side following a one-match ban, while there could also be a starting berth for Juanmi.
The hosts remain without long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, while Ferland Mendy remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Real Madrid's leading goalscorer Mbappe has served his one-match ban for the red card that he received against Alaves, but he will be absent for Wednesday's fixture after he sustained an ankle injury in last week's Champions League defeat to Arsenal.
Ancelotti is hopeful that the France international will be able to recover in time to play a role in Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
With one eye on the cup final, Ancelotti could decide to rotate his squad and hand starting opportunities to Lucas Vazquez, David Alaba, Fran Garcia, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and Endrick.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Djene, Duarte, Alderete, Rico; Coba, Terrats, Milla, Arambarri, Bernat; Juanmi
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois, Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni; Brahim, Guler, Rodrygo; Endrick
We say: Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
Getafe have the ability to make life difficult for Real Madrid on Wednesday, but while we think that they will run Los Blancos close, we ultimately believe that the visitors' extra quality will prove to be the difference, even if Ancelotti decides to rotate his team for the midweek fixture.
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