Real Madrid v Getafe: Teams confirmed as Kylian Mbappe misses out again while Thiago Pitarch starts

Real Madrid’s season enters a defining stretch when they host Getafe tonight, knowing that anything less than three points could see Barcelona open up a commanding gap at the top of the table.

Barcelona currently lead Los Blancos by four points after Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna last week, though Alvaro Arbeloa’s side have won seven consecutive home games and will be aiming for an eighth tonight.

Confidence was further boosted in midweek when they secured their place in the Champions League last 16 by beating Benfica 2-1 with a mouthwatering tie against Manchester City to come later this month.

Getafe have won only twice in La Liga since December and are just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Kylian Mbappé misses out with a knee injury but Vinicius Junior has scored in five consecutive appearances and looks back to devastating form, while Real have won their last 17 home matches against Getafe in all competitions.

Real Madrid team news

There is a first start for youngster Thiago Pitarch while David Alaba is included in the centre of defence.

Defenders Eder Militao (hamstring) and Raul Asencio (neck) are out injured for Madrid, as are midfielders Dani Ceballos (calf) and Jude Bellingham (hamstring) and top scorer Kylian Mbappe (knee).

Winger Rodrygo was a doubt with a hamstring issue but is on the bench.

Real XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Alaba, Carreras; Valverde, Guler, Tchouameni, Thiago; Garcia, Vinicius Jr

Getafe team news

Left-back Davinchi (knee) and winger Abu Kamara (muscle) are injured for Getafe. Centre-back Djene Dakonam is suspended.

Getafe XI: Soria; Femenia, Romero, Rico, Boselli, Iglesias; Rico, Milla, Arambarri, Vazquez, Satriano

Where to watch Real Madrid v Getafe: TV channel, live online stream

Kick-off on Monday is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 1 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.

A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.

Real Madrid v Getafe stats

• Real Madrid have won their last eight meetings with Getafe, keeping clean sheets in the last four and conceding one goal across those matches
• The 15-time European champions have lost fewer times (3) than any other team in the 2025/26 Liga
• Mbappe (23) is the top scorer in this season’s division by seven goals. Vinicius Junior is their next-highest scorer, contributing nine goals and five assists in the league
• A 2-1 defeat at Osasuna in their last league game on February 21 ended Madrid’s eight-match winning Liga run
• They have conceded in five of their last seven matches in all competitions
• With 20 goals in 25 matches in this season’s Liga, Getafe have scored three fewer times than any other team apart from bottom club Oviedo (16)
• Their record of 29 goals conceded is the fifth-best in the top flight, behind Madrid (21), Atleti (23), Barcelona (26) and Celta Vigo (27)
• Getafe’s only win in their last 24 fixtures against Madrid is a 1-0 win on January 2 2022
• Their last away win against Madrid was a 1-0 victory on February 24 2008
• Mauro Arambarri is Getafe’s top Liga scorer this season, with five goals. Fellow midfielder Luis Milla has eight assists in 24 league games