Stats – Thibaut Courtois’ stunning record against Getafe gives Real Madrid a vital edge | OneFootball

Real Madrid return to La Liga action today with an away clash against Getafe.

Xabi Alonso’s men will be eager to return to the top spot in the standings and maintain the defensive discipline that has been one of their biggest strengths this season, especially after Barcelona’s victory over Girona.

Meanwhile, one player who stands out in this mission is Thibaut Courtois. This is because the towering Belgian once again faces one of his favourite opponents.

Getafe is the side against whom Courtois has recorded the most clean sheets in his career – 15 in total.

Out of these, eight have come while wearing the Real Madrid shirt, making him the Madrid goalkeeper with the most clean sheets against them.

He has only conceded in one match against Getafe, plus another while playing for Atletico Madrid, proving to be an almost unbeatable wall for the southern Madrid side.

Courtois leads a defence that keeps getting better

Beyond Courtois’ personal achievements, Real Madrid’s collective defensive performance has been just as impressive.

Thibaut Courtois will be key for Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

According to AS, the team currently leads La Liga in blocked shots, stopping 32 of 81 attempts, which is a massive 39.5% success rate.

This figure doesn’t just top the Spanish league but also ranks Madrid as the fourth-best side in Europe’s top five leagues in this area.

The difference from last season under Ancelotti is clear. In the previous campaign, Madrid blocked only 105 of 405 shots faced – just 25.9%.

The improvement is down to better communication between the centre-backs and a more compact pressing setup, helping Courtois and his defenders build a much stronger wall at the back.

As Madrid head into another tricky away test, they will look to extend their unbeaten streak with the same defensive focus.

If Courtois once again delivers one of his flawless performances, Getafe may find themselves frustrated yet again by the goalkeeper who knows them best.