Three talking points ahead of Getafe vs Real Madrid | La Liga MD9 | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s first game after the international break sees them lock horns with Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez, a stadium widely regarded as one of the league’s more difficult fortresses to conquer.

Los Blancos, for their part, have not historically struggled to get results at the venue but their recent record makes it clear that it has not been particularly simple either.

After all, they have scored just four goals and conceded one goal in their last five games at the venue, aggregating three wins, a draw and a defeat in the process.

Later today, the two teams will clash off once again, this time with Real Madrid in far better form and Jose Bordalas’ men relatively struggling with just three wins in eight games so far.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Getafe vs Real Madrid.

Defensive tweak necessary

Dean Huijsen’s untimely injury places Xabi Alonso in a fix, for the Spaniard has not been able to recover in time for Real Madrid’s games after the international break.

Who will replace Dean Huijsen? (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Despite arriving only in the summer, the youngster has become an integral part of the Real Madrid defence and is now the leader of Los Blancos’ backline to the point that his absence potentially breaks the team’s stability at the back.

It will thus be interesting to see how Alonso copes with Huijsen’s unavailability, especially given that even Antonio Rudiger is not in the squad.

Eder Militao will start on the night, but who will partner him remains a question.

David Alaba and Raul Asencio are the only direct replacements available, both bringing their own sets of pros and cons.

While the former is experienced, he lacks the required match fitness and rhythm while the latter is young and promising but was horrendous in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Who replaces Huijsen and the partnership they stitch up with Militao, needless to say, may well define the game on Sunday night.

Bellingham’s big night

Jude Bellingham needs to put on a positive performance. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Jude Bellingham’s shoulder surgery kept him out of action for the opening months of the season, and the player returned only in time for the team’s clash against Espanyol late in September to make his season debut.

The player then played under 20 minutes against Levante and was handed a start in the all-important Madrid derby only to drop a poor display and see the team fall to a humiliation.

From that point on, Bellingham again returned to being a substitute.

Now seemingly back to his 100% and in better rhythm than before, the player will look to make it clear to Alonso that he deserves to start every game for the club.

With Franco Mastantuono unlikely to start after facing an injury scare in the international break, tomorrow could well be his best chance to deliver a statement performance.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler and Federico Valverde appear to be guaranteed starters in the new manager’s midfield when the squad is fully fit, and Bellingham must make it clear that he is a superior option to those currently serving in the attacking midfield.

Needless to say, there is no better way to do that than showing up against La Liga’s most notorious low block and adding creative value.

Mbappe’s confirmed availability

Kylian Mbappe is fit to play. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The Real Madrid offices were undoubtedly sweating when Kylian Mbappe left the field injured for France in the ongoing international break.

He soon returned to Madrid and underwent tests that revealed that his blow was minor, sending a wave of relief through the Spanish capital.

Despite the positive news, however, Mbappe’s participation against Getafe on Sunday continued to be under a cloud of doubt with outlets reporting that he still felt slight discomfort.

Earlier this week, however, Mbappe took to his social media to all but confirm his well-being and availability for the weekend and he has indeed been included in Xabi Alonso’s squad to face Getafe.

That, needless to say, is the biggest boost that Real Madrid could have asked for.

The Frenchman has after all been one of the most in-form players in the world this season and his numbers so far are absolutely staggering.

He has single-handedly led Real Madrid’s forward department and already has nine goals to his name in eight La Liga games.

On a night when Real Madrid will be going up against Getafe who are known for their low block and tight spaces, Mbappe’s efficiency and clinical finishing will be more important than ever before.