Real Madrid: 5 players who must step up against Getafe

Real Madrid will face Getafe on Sunday night at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, and they will be missing a number of key players due to injury, suspension, or fatigue. Los Merengues are coming off three great results against Liverpool (twice) and FC Barcelona, and they won’t want to slip in the title race this Sunday against a different kind of rival.

In light of all the necessary changes for this Sunday’s fixture, let’s take a look at five players who must step up to the challenge for Real Madrid.

LB Marcelo

We begin with Marcelo, who played his best game of the season against Getafe this February. He did so in a playmaking role, as he was shielded from the responsibilities of defending with Zinedine Zidane using a back three formation for the first time in 2020-2021.

Due to all the injuries at center back, Zizou does not have the personnel to use a back three. So if Marcelo starts with Ferland Mendy injured, he will have to make his appearance at the left back position, which used to be his spot alone before Mendy’s arrival.

Unfortunately, Marcelo is a shell of himself at left back and cost the team points earlier this season with his errors. If he starts at left back against Getafe, he cannot afford to be so mistake-prone. His defensive weaknesses will be highlighted by Carles Alena and manager Jose Bordalas as something to exploit.