Real Valladolid's battle to somehow escape the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Sunday evening, when they welcome Getafe to Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
The White and Violets are currently bottom of the La Liga table, 11 points from the safety of 17th position, while Getafe sit 12th, nine points clear of the bottom three heading towards the final straight.
Match preview
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Real Valladolid boast a record of four wins, four draws and 21 defeats from their 29 league matches this season, with a total of 16 points leaving them rock bottom of the table, 11 points from the safety of 17th position.
The strugglers have the worst attacking record in the league this season, only finding the back of the net on 19 occasions, while they have the worst defensive record, conceding 65 times, so it is not difficult to understand why it has been so challenging for them this term.
Alvaro Rubio's side held Las Palmas to a 1-1 draw at the end of February, but they have since lost to Valencia, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad, while it is almost three months since they were last victorious in Spain's top flight.
Real Valladolid finished second in the Segunda Division last season to secure a return to La Liga, so their main goal for this term was to finish higher than 18th, but it does appear that they are destined to drop back down into the second tier.
The White and Violets suffered a 2-0 defeat to Getafe in the reverse match earlier this season, but it was 0-0 when the pair last locked horns at the home of Real Valladolid in La Liga in June 2023.
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Getafe, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Villarreal, with that loss following back-to-back wins over Atletico Madrid and Osasuna before the March international break.
The Deep Blue Ones have a record of nine wins, nine draws and 11 defeats from their 29 league matches this season, with 36 points leaving them in 12th spot in the table, two points behind 10th-placed Real Sociedad.
Jose Bordalas' side are actually only four points off Rayo Vallecano in seventh, so there is plenty for them to play for in the final stages of the campaign, and their success this term has been built on a strong defence.
Indeed, Getafe have only conceded 25 times, which is the third-best defensive record behind Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, but finding the back of the net has been a problem, only managing 26 goals in 29 matches, which is the second-worst attacking record.
The capital side have picked up 17 points from their 14 away league matches during the 2024-25 campaign, while Real Valladolid have only 13 points to show from their 14 home La Liga games during the current season.
Team News
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Real Valladolid will be without the services of two players through suspension on Sunday, with Javi Sanchez and David Torres both banned, while Marcos Andre and Karl Hein are injury doubts.
Head coach Rubio will have to change his starting centre-backs from the Real Sociedad game due to the bans for Sanchez and Torres, which is expected to open the door for Cenk Ozkacar and Eray Comert.
Juanmi Latasa was on the scoresheet against Real Sociedad, and he is set to continue through the middle, with the attacker bidding to add to the three league goals that he has managed during the 2024-25 campaign.
Getafe, meanwhile, will welcome Christantus Uche back into their squad for the clash with the division's basement side following a suspension.
The visitors do not have any injury concerns heading into this match, with head coach Bordalas therefore having a number of big decisions to make, but Uche is set to come back into the XI, while there should also be a spot for Borja Mayoral.
Juanmi is likely to drop down to the bench, while Coba could also be removed from the starting side on Sunday evening.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Rafus; Perez, Comert, Ozkacar, Aznou; Juric, Martin; Sanchez, Amallah, Moro; Latasa
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Duarte, Alderete, Rico; Perez, Arambarri, Dakonam, Milla, Uche; Mayoral
We say: Real Valladolid 0-1 Getafe
Real Valladolid's last four matches have been close affairs, and we are not expecting a high-scoring match on Sunday, also taking into account Getafe's problems in the final third. However, the visitors should be able to navigate their way to all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
