Benitez: Real better than what a lot of people think

Real Madrid host Getafe while local rivals Atletico Madrid will travel to Granada. It has been 42 years since Granada overcame Atletico, with the Red and Whites enjoying a 13-game unbeaten run against the hosts.

Published : Dec 05, 2015 16:01 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo has 9 goals in 13 appearances in the La Liga so far. Will he step up his game against Getafe today?
Cristiano Ronaldo has 9 goals in 13 appearances in the La Liga so far. Will he step up his game against Getafe today?
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Cristiano Ronaldo has 9 goals in 13 appearances in the La Liga so far. Will he step up his game against Getafe today?

Real Madrid head coach Rafael Benitez has said that they have recovered from the humiliating 0-4 defeat against Barcelona, and emphasised that his group won three straight games in La Liga, the European Champions League and the Copa del Rey, stressing at the same time that the footballers are “better than what a lot of people think”.

“We have obtained three consecutive victories and, despite the injuries, we have not lost competitiveness. We are doing better than what many people think and we have to prove that on the pitch in every game,” Benitez was quoted as saying in a press conference held on Friday.

In his statements, Benitez focused on the upcoming Getafe game and dodged questions regarding fielding a suspended player during Wednesday’s clash against Cadiz. Benitez said that Getafe is “a good side, and they are well managed”.

“They are a group that knows what needs to be done and they do it well,” he cautioned.

As for the numerous injuries that his group sustained recently, the coach said: “We have seen similar circumstances in other sides around the world and there are many causes. We have been affected by problems that are inherent to an intense season and those that resulted from national teams. That means that players are unable to rest, they over exert themselves, therefore the level of risk increases.

BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) were rested during the midweek and the midfield will likely be a combination of three from Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and James Rodriguez. Madrid will have to field a patched-up defence of Danilo, Nacho, Pepe and Alvaro Arbeloa due to injuries for regular starters Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo.

In the other match on Saturday, local rivals Atletico Madrid will travel to Granada. It has been 42 years since Granada overcame Atletico, with the Red and Whites enjoying a 13-game unbeaten run against the hosts.

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