Real Madrid will look to move on from another turbulent week when they host Getafe in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
Rafael Benitez's side currently sit six points behind leaders Barcelona, and the pressure is on the Real boss as they prepare to welcome Getafe, who occupy 13th spot.
Real Madrid
© Getty ImagesAs every Real Madrid manager has learned over the years, rarely does a week pass without criticism or a controversial moment arriving to pile the pressure on.
Benitez has learned these harsh lessons quickly since taking charge of Real in the summer, and the former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss is still feeling the impact of his side's emphatic loss to Barcelona in El Clasico a couple of weeks ago.
Three successive wins have arrived since then, with victories coming against Shakhtar Donetsk, Eibar and Cadiz, but their latest win matters little following the controversy surrounding the decision to play Denis Cheryshev.
Despite claims that no-one at the club had been informed, Cheryshev, who opened the scoring in a 3-1 win, should not have played against Cadiz in the Copa del Rey due to a suspension picked up while representing Villarreal in the competition.
It was confirmed on Friday that the Spanish Football Federation had made the decision to throw the club out of the competition, and although an appeal is likely to follow, the news comes as another damaging blow for Los Blancos.
The events surrounding Real's expulsion from the Copa del Rey is likely to dominate headlines for the next couple of weeks, but Benitez insists that the saga will not have an impact on his side, who beat Eibar last weekend thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
With Real the first of the top three sides in action on Saturday, Benitez will be desperate to avoid a slip-up as he looks to prove that he is the right man to lead the squad in their bid to catch Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Recent form: WWWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWLLWW
Getafe
© Getty ImagesGetafe supporters will be forgiven for expecting the worst as they prepare to make the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu for one of the biggest challenges of the season.
The relatively short trip to the famous ground always creates excitement for fans, but after losing five of their six away league games so far in the campaign, Fran Escriba's side head into the match as huge underdogs to cause an upset.
Despite their struggles on the road this season, Escriba has suggested that it would be unwise for his side to stray from their positive approach against Real.
"We will try to be ourselves, adapting to the opponent, [but] I do not plan to go to the Bernabeu to defend," he told reporters this week. "We are required to go there to win. Still, the draw would be a great result."
Getafe ended a run of four games without a win by claiming an impressive 2-0 victory over Villarreal last weekend, but optimism soon turned to frustration when they suffered a defeat by the same scoreline away to Rayo Vallecano in the first leg of their last-32 tie in the Copa del Rey.
Currently sitting 13th in the table, Escriba's side are just four points above the relegation and an emphatic loss could strike a crucial blow to morale as they bid to pull away from the danger zone before the international break.
Recent form: WLLLDW
Recent form (all competitions): LLLDWL
Team News
© Getty ImagesRonaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema are all set to return for the hosts after being rested in midweek, while Marcelo was back in training this week following his recent spell on the sidelines.
However, Real are expected to be without Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal as they continue their respective recoveries.
Juan Rodriguez will miss out for Getafe due to a one-game suspension, but Alvaro Medran is the only player ruled out through injury.
Alvaro Vazquez should lead the line for the visitors once again, with Victor Rodriguez and Angel Lafita expected to provide support for the lone striker.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho, Arbeloa; Modric, Kroos, Rodriguez; Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Suarez, Cala, Alexis, Lago; Yoda, Lacen, Sarabia, V Rodriguez, Lafita; Vazquez
Head To Head
Getafe have rarely been given much to celebrate against Real, who have lost just one of the last 13 meetings between the two sides.
Real are on a seven-game winning run against Saturday's opponents at home, with the seventh win coming via an emphatic 7-3 triumph at the Bernabeu on the final day of last season.
Ronaldo, who netted a hat-trick in the aforementioned win, has scored 10 goals in his last five games against Getafe.
We say: Real Madrid 4-0 Getafe
Getafe picked up an impressive win against Villarreal last weekend, but they have struggled on the road this season and always look vulnerable defensively. Their struggles at the back should be enough to hand all three points to Real, who will be in the mood to record a comfortable win after attracting headlines for the wrong reasons in recent days.
