Real Madrid will be bracing themselves for a testing start to 2011 as they make the short trip across the capital to in-form neighbours Getafe on Monday evening.
Real have enjoyed a hugely successful start to life under Jose Mourinho, winning 20 of 25 official matches with their only loss being that 5-0 mauling by Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Since that loss Madrid have rattled off five successive victories in three different competitions and in their final game before Christmas thrashed Levante 8-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie.
That result should make next Thursday’s return leg academic, but Mourinho’s men cannot afford to be so relaxed about their two league games in the coming week as they face a derby encounter with improving Getafe before then hosting third-placed Villarreal.
Like Real, Getafe are on a run of five consecutive victories and they are now just two points behind fourth-placed Valencia in La Liga.
Real have also found the Coliseum Alfonso Perez a tough place to visit since Getafe were promoted to the top flight in 2004, and Azulones midfielder Pedro Rios has warned their illustrious neighbours not to expect an easy time of it on Monday either.
“I’m not giving this game up for lost. We know our potential and we know we can win because we’re going through a good spell,” said Rios, who has scored five times in the last seven games.
Real Madrid midfielder Pedro Leon, who moved to the Bernabeu from Getafe last summer, said: “I’m a fan and a Getafe member and I always want them to win, apart from when they play Real. I hope that on Monday night we’re the ones with the three points.”
The derby between Getafe and Madrid is one of five matches being staged on Monday, with the rest of the fixtures being played tomorrow despite protests by the Spanish players’ union (AFE).
The AFE were upset about the scheduling of games on January 2, which was designated a holiday for its members according to a 2008 agreement with the Spanish football league (LFP), but they were unsuccessful after taking the LFP to court.
Therefore, tomorrow Barcelona take on wounded Levante with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to extend their two-point lead over second-placed Madrid at the summit.
Barca, who had averaged more than four goals a game during their 10-match winning run prior to their goalless draw at home to Athletic Bilbao in the cup immediately before Christmas, are without their first-choice centre-back pairing though as Carles Puyol is injured and Gerard Pique is suspended.
Lionel Messi also looks set to sit the game out as Guardiola has given him permission not to return from holiday until this weekend.
Also tomorrow, there are potentially key match-ups at either end of the table.
At the top, fourth-placed Valencia host fifth-placed Espanyol, with both teams locked on 28 points, while at the bottom two teams stuck in the relegation zone meet at El Molinon when Sporting Gijon take on Malaga.
Also on the same day, Osasuna travel to a Sevilla side who have lost their last five successive league games while Athletic Bilbao are at home to Deportivo La Coruna.
On Monday, rock-bottom Real Zaragoza play Real Sociedad, Villarreal host Almeria, Racing Santander go to Atletico Madrid and Real Mallorca are at home to Hercules.
Primera Liga
Playing tomorrow
A. Bilbao vs Deportivo - 16.00
Barcelona vs Levante - 18.00
S. Gijon vs Malaga - 18.00
Sevilla vs Osasuna - 20.00
Valencia vs Espanyol - 22.00
Monday – 20.00
A. Madrid vs R. Santander
Mallorca vs Hercules
Villarreal vs Almeria
R. Zaragoza vs R. Sociedad
Getafe vs R. Madrid - 22.00
Current standings: Barcelona 43; R. Madrid 41; Villarreal 33; Valencia, Espanyol 28; A. Madrid, Getafe 26; A. Bilbao 25; R. Sociedad 22; Mallorca 21; Sevilla 20; Hercules 19; Deportivo, R. Santander 18; Osasuna 17; Levante 15; Almeria, Malaga 13; S. Gijon 12; R. Zaragoza 10.