Atletico Madrid will be bidding to continue their extraordinary winning run when they welcome an in-form Getafe to Wanda Metropolitano for a La Liga contest on Sunday afternoon.
Diego Simeone's side have been victorious in each of their last 10 matches, including their last five in the league, while Getafe are also in excellent form, winning four of their last five games across two competitions.
Match preview
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Atletico were involved in a seven-goal thriller with Sevilla in La Liga last weekend, with Simeone's side actually coming from 3-1 behind to win 4-3, with Antoine Griezmann hitting the winner in the 94th minute of the contest in the capital.
The Red and Whites were also victorious in the Champions League on Wednesday, beating Slovan Bratislava on home soil, and that success made it 10 straight wins for the capital outfit in all competitions.
Atletico have won each of their last five in the league against Las Palmas, Mallorca, Alaves, Real Valladolid and Sevilla, and they are very much in the title picture at this stage, picking up 35 points from 16 matches to sit third in the La Liga table, one point behind second-placed Real Madrid and three from leaders Barcelona with a game in hand.
Simeone's team have again been strong at home this season, winning six and drawing two of their eight matches to collect 20 points, and they will be welcoming a Getafe outfit that have just two points to show from their seven games on their travels.
Atletico have a huge game away to Barcelona next weekend, and there is certainly a chance that the capital outfit could end 2024 at the top of the division, which would put them in an excellent spot to challenge for the title in the second half of the season.
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Getafe will be aware of the size of the task this weekend, as they bid to stop what has become a winning machine, but Jose Bordalas's side are in good form, winning four of their last five matches in all competitions.
The Deep Blue Ones recorded a 1-0 win over Espanyol in their last league match, with the result moving them into 15th spot in the table, boasting 16 points from their 16 matches courtesy of a record of three wins, seven draws and six defeats.
Finding the back of the net has been a real problem this season, with Getafe the lowest goalscorers in La Liga on 11, but they have the joint-second best defensive record alongside Real Madrid, having conceded only 13.
It will therefore be the worst attack in the division against La Liga's sternest defence this weekend, with Atletico conceding only 11 times, and three of those came last time out against Sevilla.
Getafe have only been beaten once in all competitions since November 10, and they are present in the third round of the Copa del Rey, overcoming both Manises and Orihuela in the early stages of the 2024-25 tournament.
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Team News
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Atletico had Thomas Lemar back on their bench against Slovan Bratislava, and with no fresh issues being reported, the Red and Whites could have a full squad available for selection this weekend.
Head coach Simeone is unlikely to make many changes from the side that featured in Europe, but Conor Gallagher is likely to return in a wide area, with Samuel Lino dropping to the bench.
Julian Alvarez and Griezmann are both having excellent campaigns, with the former managing 12 goals in 24 appearances, while the latter has 11 in 23, and the pair will again feature in the final third of the field on Sunday.
As for Getafe, Carles Alena and Borja Mayoral remain on the sidelines due to muscular problems, while Mauro Arambarri is suspended due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up against Espanyol last time out.
Alvaro Rodriguez, who is on loan from Real Madrid, hit the winner against Espanyol and is set to continue in the final third of the field.
The only change from their last match is set to come in central midfield, with Arambarri unavailable, which is expected to lead to John Patrick coming in for a start.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Dakonam, Alderete, Rico; Nyom, Patrick, Milla, Coba; Uche, Rodriguez
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Getafe
Getafe have not beaten Atletico in La Liga since November 2011, which is an indication of the size of their task here; two of their last three meetings have actually finished level, including a 3-3 at Wanda Metropolitano last term, but we are backing Simeone's side to navigate their way to all three points on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law