After eliminating Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinals and winning a vital La Liga match against rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid are in need of some rest. But instead of getting a reprieve this weekend, Los Blancos must travel to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez to take on crosstown rivals Getafe in what promises to be a grueling “final” for Real.
This team is resilient and has the quality to get all three points once more. Real Madrid have been on quite the run since the start of February. In order to get the result they need, they must fulfill the following keys to victory.
Alvaro Odriozola, Marcelo must be disciplined defensively
Based on MARCA’s expected lineups for Matchday 33, we can expect Real Madrid to line up with Alvaro Odriozola and Marcelo at both fullback positions. Marcelo will be giving Ferland Mendy, who has run more than any other player in the Champions League, some relief, while Odriozola is starting due to injuries to Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal.
Both players were culpable in a few poor team performances this season as a result of individual defensive errors. Marcelo played well in front of a back three against Getafe, but as a left back in a back four, he can be a huge liability.
Real Madrid are going up against a relatively weak attacking side, but, even so, neither Marcelo nor Odriozola can afford a down performance. Madridistas still remember Odriozola’s costly match against Mallorca last season in October.