Getafe vs. Real Madrid Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Madrid Spain, 2 PM EST Thursday March 25, 2010
by Jason Green at Predictem.com
Match Odds: Real Madrid 1.40 / Getafe 7.50 / Draw 4.50
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
Moneyline: Real Madrid -275 / Getafe +750 / Draw +400
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On Thursday night in Spain’s capital in a derby match Getafe hosts Real Madrid. Real Madrid flamed out to Lyon in the Champions League and may have to win La Liga to make this season a success with all the cash they spent in the off-season. Currently Real Madrid is tied with Barcelona, who play on Wednesday at home, atop the domestic league standings, but have a better goal differential so they hold the tiebreaker.
Getafe is in the 8th position in La Liga and would like to finish the season well to get to the 5ht place position so they can qualify for European play next season. Getafe had a solid 2-2 draw last weekend against Athletic Bilbao so they come into this match with confidence even though they lost to Real 2-0 earlier this season.
Real Madrid has been perfect at home this season, but has been only mediocre on the road. Real had a come from behind win in their last match, which they played many young players and might do so again in this match since they have a rash of injuries. With a big match against Atletico Madrid in their next fixture they cannot look past a Getafe team that has given them fits in the past few seasons.
This season in La Liga Real Madrid has scored 74 goals, the most in the league, and given up 22 and Getafe has scored 36 goals and given up 34.
Real Madrid fans have already begun to grumble after falling in the 1st round of the knockout phase in the Champions League and if they do not win La Liga they will really hear it from their supporters.
Getafe will have to thwart a Real Madrid offense that has scored 15 goals in their last 4 La Liga matches.
Getafe Recent Form:
3/20/2010 Atletico Bilbao 2 Getafe 2 (La Liga)
3/14/2010 Getafe 3 Mallorca 0 (La Liga)
3/7/2010 Osasuna 0 Getafe 0 (La Liga)
2/27/2010 Getafe 0 Zaragoza 2 (La Liga)
2/22/2010 Valencia 2 Getafe 0 (La Liga)
Real Madrid Recent Form:
3/20/2010 Real Madrid 3 Sporting de Gijon 1 (La Liga)
3/13/2010 Sporting de Gijon 1 Real Madrid 4 (La Liga)
3/10/2010 Real Madrid 1 Lyon 1 (Champions League)
3/6/2010 Real Madrid 3 Sevilla 2 (La Liga)
2/27/2010 Tenerife 1 Real Madrid 5 (La Liga)
Getafe’s Roberto Soldado is out for this match with a long-term injury and Miguel Torres will not play because of a red card he received last weekend.
Real Madrid has a slew of injury concerns, as Kaka, Karim Benzema, Lassana Diarra and Mahamadou Diarra are all likely out for this derby clash. Guti was yanked from practice recently and he will also probably miss this match. To add insult to injury, no pun intended, Marcelo is taking care of personal business in Brazil and will not play.
Getafe’s Pedro Leon scored the tying goal in their last match and the 23-year old will have to provide some offense for the home side in this match.
Manu and Dani Parejo have to help Leon out and with the depleted midfield that Real has I think one of them will score in this match.
Xabi Alonso is healthy and will be counted on to have a big role in the midfield, as he will be counted on for offense and to drop back on defense on the counter-attack.
Getafe G Codina will have to have a great match, as Real will likely be heading into the match in 2nd place in La Liga, as Barcelona is heavily favored on Wednesday, and will be attacking from the opening whistle. He has been up and down this season, but do not expect him to keep a clean sheet in this match.
With Karim Benzema it will put more pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo to score and I think he will step up and find the back of the net in this match.
Jason’s Pick: Even with Real shorthanded they have a much better squad and they will have a lot of fans in the stands for this derby. Getafe will play well, but they simply do not have the players to keep up with Real. I look for Real Madrid to win by a score of 2-1 or 3-1.
