Getafe vs Real Madrid: League leaders look to extend lead in first game of 2022

Topics: TV Schedules, Real Madrid, Getafe, La Liga

League leaders Real Madrid will kick off 2022 with an away clash against Getafe on Sunday, January 2nd.

Preview: Getafe vs Real Madrid

With a very comfortable eight point lead over the chasing pack, the league title looks increasingly likely to be in Real Madrid's hands at the end of the 2021/22 La Liga season. Los Blancos have lost just once in the league all season, and are unbeaten in league play since the start of October. In fact, they come into this contest boasting a whopping 17 point lead over reigning champs Atletico Madrid and an 18 point advantage over bitter rivals Barcelona. Carlo Ancelotti's men have won all but one of their last nine games (with one draw) and given the woes upcoming opponents Getafe are facing, look set to make it a win to kick off 2022.

Given that they're competing on multiple fronts, Ancelotti will likely look to rotate his squad, especially considering that Getafe haven't beaten Real Madrid in La Liga since 2008. In addition, the hosts sit in 16th spot, tied on point with 18th-placed Alaves. That being said, they have shown signs of improvement lately, and come into this contest having lost just one of their last eight league games.

Indeed, Quique Sanchez Flores's squad have picked up nine points - half their current total - from just their last five matches, and while they're the major underdogs against the league leaders, they just may hope to cause a bit of trouble when Los Blancos come to town on Sunday.

Team news: Getafe vs Real Madrid

Getafe: Djene Dakonam is out due to a suspension, while Jose Macias, Vitolo and Chema Rodriguez remain in doubt, and Sabit Abdulai is definitely out due to injury.

Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior, Luka Jovic, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois all tested positive for COVID-19, but Courtois, Camavinga, and Valverde apparently have been re-tested and now have come up as negative. As such, Courtous and Valverde could make the squad for this game, but Camavinga won't be able to feature either way, as he's suspended.