2′ Casemiro threads the needle to release Bale in acres of space down the right flank, but the Welshman opts to cut back on his left foot and is closed down by Nyom.
2′ Benzema gets in behind the Getafe backline in the right inside channel to flick a header from Carvajal’s lofted pass, but it goes straight through to Soria.
1′ We’re underway in this LaLiga contest.
Getafe are winless in their last 11 LaLiga games against Real Madrid (D1 L10). Their last win against the White side in the competition was in August 2012 (2-1 at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez).
Madrid are without Sergio Ramos due to suspension this afternoon. The skipper’s absence is one of four changes to the side from their draw against Bilbao before Christmas. Varane replaces Ramos in the middle of the defence alongside Militao. Casemiro is recalled in the middle of the park, while Bale and Isco get the nod ahead of Rodrygo and Vinicius to play in the final third.
Jose Bordalas has made one change to his side that was beaten by Villarreal last time out. Molina drops to the bench from the defeat and is replaced in the final by Rodriguez, who leads the line alongside Mata.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Alphonse Areola, Nacho Fernandez, Federico Valverde, Luka Jovic, Alvaro Odriozola, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Silva.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Raphael Varane, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Isco.
GETAFE SUBS: Leandro Chichizola, Vitorino Antunes, Franciscoi Portillo, Amath Ndiaye, Xabier Etxeita, Jorge Milano, David Timor.
GETAFE (4-4-2): David Soria; Damian Suarez, Djene Dakonam, Leandro Cabrera, Allan-Romeo Nyom; Faycal Fajr, Nemanja Maksimovic, Mauro Arambarri, Marc Cucurella; Angel Rodriguez, Jaime Mata.
Madrid’s momentum was stymied before the break in their bid to wrestle top spot away from Barcelona. They were held to three draws on the bounce, including in El Clasico where they could have snatched the three points at Camp Nou. They were underwhelming against Athletic Bilbao last time out, failing to find the back of the net. Zinedine Zidane’s men begin the year two points off the pace of Barca and need a strong performance to kickstart the second half of the season.
LaLiga returns from the winter break after an absence of two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period. Getafe were one of the form sides in the division boasting an unbeaten run of eight matches in all competitions before suffering a defeat at the hands of Villarreal on the road on December 21. They’ve had two weeks to plan for the challenge of Madrid this afternoon and will have to rediscover their peak form to take down Los Blancos.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the LaLiga clash between Getafe and Real Madrid at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
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