Getafe v Real Madrid: Preview
PA
Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo has called on his players to show their true worth against near neighbours Getafe.
Wednesday night's Champions League exit against Juventus has plunged Real Madrid deep into crisis.
The Spanish sporting press viewed the defeat as the end of an era at the club and are already speculating on who will be the players to leave in the summer and who will be the new faces brought in.
Luxemburgo himself has also come in for criticism for his decision to start Wednesday's game with Raul and Zinedine Zidane, both of whom had been unfit in the week prior to the match and who failed to perform on the night.
Failure to win at Getafe could see Madrid on the verge of ending their second consecutive season without winning anything, with the gap standing at eight points between them and Barcelona at the top of the table.
"Now is the moment they have to show they are great professionals," said Luxemburgo, who preferred to view what remains of the season not so much as the end of an era, but the chance for the players to prove the critics wrong.
"I have great faith in the squad, we have to finish the season with the players that we have and to finish it with dignity.
"The season is not over and we are not going to let the league just sail away from us. I want everyone to know that we are going to battle for the title.
"All of the players have to show that they can be a part of Real Madrid next year."
David Beckham will miss the game through suspension, which should open the door for either Guti or Santiago Solari, while the 120 minutes in the Delle Alpi means other players such as Luis Figo could be rested.
Raul Bravo will continue to fill in at right back for the injured Michel Salgado, but it remains to be seen whether Michael Owen gets the chance to partner Ronaldo in attack as he did so successfully at home to Real Betis 10 days ago.
Getafe, meanwhile, are looking forward to Real Madrid's first Primera Liga visit to the Alfonso Perez Coliseum.
The home side were unlucky to lose 2-0 to Madrid in the first meeting in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and the offer of a 60,000 euros (£42,000) bonus by club president Angel Torres if his side can go one better is a huge incentive for the players at this small club.
Torres has complained bitterly that the game, which was due to be televised on Saturday night, has now been switched to Sunday. That allows Madrid 24 more hours to recover from Wednesday, but means his side have a day less to prepare for next Wednesday's trip to Athletic Bilbao.
The fact that several of the Getafe squad, such as Diego Rivas and Gabi have previously played for Real's local rivals Atletico Madrid, should also add spice to the tie and Gabi wasted no time in celebrating Real's exit from Europe.
"It all worked out as I wanted it to, they were beaten in extra time," he said.
"It could be they are not playing as well as people want them to but they are still dangerous. We will need to work incredibly well as a team."
Getafe vs.
Real Madrid
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