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Keylor Navas says the Real Madrid players were happy to get through a tricky fixture against Getafe with three points.

Los Blancos won 5-1 thanks to goals from Karim Benzema (2), Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Isco. The win saw Real move a point behind leader Barcelona in the table and back in contention in the title race.

Speaking afterwards, Navas admitted the players were pleased to come through unscathed against a team bottom of the table and fighting for their lives.

“It was a difficult game. Getafe are in a tricky position and they came out and gave it everything. We put in a focussed performance, we played the game with the respect that it deserved and we won. We were accurate with most of our plays. We’re always happy when things turn out well,” he was quoted as saying.

Quizzed on his thoughts about the run in for La Liga, Navas said the team would just focus on what they have to do.

He stated: “We’re not going to let our heads drop, we have to win the remaining games. We mustn’t lose our faith. We are Real Madrid and we have to keep giving everything. We are fighting for titles and we will keep moving forward.”

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Real Madrid left back Marcelo says the players are up for the fight on two fronts after hauling themselves back into contention in La Liga.

Los Blancos defeated Getafe 5-1 on Saturday afternoon to move a point behind leaders Barcelona, ahead of the Catalan outfit playing their game in hand on Sunday. It is a remarkable turnaround from a few weeks ago when Real were 13 points behind and their season looked all but over.

But speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Marcelo said the attitude of the players within the squad is to never give up, no matter how fierce the criticism from outside.

“We’ve grown a lot in this final part of the season and our objective was to close the gap at the top, and now we are very close. We try and perform at the top level in all the championships we’re involved in. There are no easy games now, they are all finals and we’ll keep this up until the end,” the Brazilian said.

He added: “People lose hope, but our fans have been with us so far and they always will be. We’ve been criticised, but we’ve continued working and fighting and now we’re just one point away. Madrid has always had this strength and will to fight. Real Madrid always battle and we don’t let our heads drop.”

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Zinedine Zidane says the Real Madrid players need to believe in themselves if they are to win La Liga.

Los Blancos have closed the gap on leaders Barcelona from 13 points a few weeks ago to just one point now after their 5-1 win over Getafe on Saturday. The win came thanks o a brace from Karim Benzema and goals from Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Isco.

At his press conference after the game, the boss said he had been concerned about how the players would perform after the testing game against Wolfsburg during the week and added he was delighted with what he’d seen.

He stated: “We’re doing our work and the players know that La Liga is important. Tonight we’re going to sleep just one point behind the leaders. The most important thing is the work we’re doing and not to look beyond that. We are only ever looking to the next match. Yesterday I said I was concerned, and the players went out on the pitch and did what they had to do, and they did it very well.”

And he added: “We’re getting closer to La Liga all the time and I’m happy with how everyone is working. We know that if we’re going to achieve something, we have to believe we can do it.”

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Isco

Real Madrid midfielder Isco says the team won’t give up the chase in La Liga and will fight until the very end.

Los Blancos closed the gap on leaders Barcelona to just one point after defeating Getafe 5-1 on Saturday. Karim Benzema got two goals in the first half while Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Isco added the gloss in the second period.

It was Real’s seventh consecutive victory in La Liga and ends a good week for the team after their brilliant comeback against Wolfsburg in the Champions League.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Isco said: “It was a dangerous match. After the comeback and the great game against Wolfsburg we could have relaxed, but we haven’t done that. We went out fired up and got two goals in the first half and we’re pleased with today’s game. The team performed perfectly, we’re putting pressure on those above us in La Liga and we’re going to compete until the end. We are Real Madrid and we cannot give up.”

He added that team rotation is important while the players fight on two fronts.

“It’s important to have rotation within a team. The competitions are very long and it’s important to keep everyone switched on heading into the end of the season, because it’s difficult to win titles with only eleven players.”

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Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, says the team must be at their best to beat Manchester City in the Champions League semi finals.

Los Blancos drew the Citizens in the last four after overcoming Wolfsburg and will face their former boss in Manuel Pellegrini.

The pair have met in the Champions League before – Real defeated them at the Santiago Bernabeu and drew at the Etihad Stadium in the group stages of the 2012-13 campaign. The semi final stage is also uncharted territory for City while Los Blancos have won the competition 10 times in their history.

However, speaking after the draw, Butragueno said the sides are evenly matched and Zidane’s players will need to be at their best for the two games.

“They will be evenly matched. Manchester City has match-winning players. They will be highly motivated. We have to play at our best over the two games. In Germany, we lost concentration for ten minutes and lost the game, so we have to be more focussed. I remember being here this time last year, and everyone said we’d had a lot of luck. After that, Juventus went on the eliminate us. There are always good teams in the semi-finals who have enough quality to face up to any challenge,” he said.

And he added: “We have to play well in the two games and the players must play their best game possible. The two matches will be very even. This is our sixth semi-final in a row and from experience we know it will not be easy. We therefore need to get a good result in Manchester.”

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Karim Benzema ensured Real Madrid kept the pressure on leader Barcelona in La Liga by scoring one goal and assisting on two more as Los Blancos defeated Getafe 1-5.

The Frenchman scored his 22nd goal of the competition before setting up Isco and Gareth Bale to seal the victory early in the second half.

James Rodriguez, who got a chance to play from the start, made it 4-1. Minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo closed Los Merengues’ seventh consecutive league victory with his 31st goal in the competition.

The Portugal international had struck the post early, and waves of attacks inevitably led to Benzema’s breakthrough when he used his right foot to sweep in Rodriguez’s cross.

Benzema worked a one-two passing combination to help Isco make it 2-0 before halftime, and his pass let Bale romp forward before beating goalkeeper Vicente Guaita in the 50th.

Pablo Sarabia got Getafe’s consolation goal with six minutes left before Rodriguez and Ronaldo struck.

Madrid provisionally passed Atletico Madrid into second place and moved to within one point of struggling leader Barcelona.

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Zinedine Zidane says the Getafe team will be fired up this afternoon for the visit of Real Madrid.

On paper, the game in the Madrid suburbs seems like an easy three points for Real, who will move into second and close the gap on leaders Barcelona to just one point if they win.

But with Getafe struggling near the foot of the table and having changed managers recently, Zidane says he is expecting a reaction from them this afternoon and warned his team they need to be at their best.

“I don’t like this game because it seems to be thought that we will play against Getafe and win easily but it won’t be like that. We’re going to play against a team who fight to the death in every game and who have just changed managers, a manager who I also happen to know. I’m certain that it will be a very difficult match,” he told reporters.

He added: “I’m referring to the atmosphere and that fact that it is not easy playing away against a team who are almost bottom of the league. They have also just changed managers. Our players know what they will be playing against. We will be focussed, but I don’t like the atmosphere that we will have to face. I am only thinking about preparing for this game and avoiding any surprises.”

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real madrid football tactics

Real Madrid take on Getafe on Saturday hoping to extend their winning run in La Liga to seven victories in a row.

Zinedine Zidane will rest some of his usual starters after the big effort they made against Wolfsburg on Wednesday to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League.

The French manager has left Sergio Ramos and Casemiro out of the squad. He will also miss Danilo, who is suspended for this match.

Thus, Raphael Varane is expected to feature in defence, pairing with Pepe at centre-back. Daniel Carvajal and Marcelo are expected to start as full-backs, although Zidane could also decide to rest them.

In midfield, James Rodriguez and Isco are the main candidates to replace Casemiro and accompany Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. No changes are expected in the forward line, as Zidane seems to rely on Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo whenever they are fit to play. Keylor Navas is expected to keep goal after resting last week against Eibar.

This is Real Madrid’s projected starting lineup: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Bale, Modric, Kroos, James Rodriguez; Benzema, Ronaldo.

This is Getafe’s projected starting eleven: Guaita; Suarez, Vigaray, Vergini, Pereira; Juan Rodriguez, Lacen; Leon, Victor Rodriguez, Sarabia; Vazquez.

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Getafe Real Madrid match preview

Real Madrid will look to put pressure on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid with a victory against Getafe as they visit their regional rivals on Saturday in La Liga.

Los Blancos sit third in the table, four points behind Barcelona and one point behind Atletico. With six games to go, Zinedine Zidane men believe they can still conquer the title, and the win at Getafe is a essential. Real have won their last six league games and will look to make it seven.

Zidane has decided to rest Sergio Ramos and Casemiro, who have played all minutes in the past few games. Thus, Raphael Varane is expected to feature alongside Pepe in the centre of the defence. Meanwhile, James Rodriguez and Isco are the main candidates to replace the Brazilian in midfield.

Danilo will also miss the game though suspension, meaning that Daniel Carvajal will possibly start again at right-back, unless Zidane decides to give Alvaro Arbeloa another chance.

Getafe, who are battling to avoid relegation, have dismissed manager Fran Escriba this week and former Los Blancos player Juan Eduardo Esnaider has been appointed for the job. The Argentinian will miss defender Emiliano Velazquez though injury and suspended Alvaro Medran.

Possible lineups:

Getafe: Guaita; Suarez, Vigaray, Vergini, Pereira; Juan Rodriguez, Lacen; Leon, Victor Rodriguez, Sarabia; Vazquez.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Bale, Modric, Kroos, James Rodriguez; Benzema, Ronaldo.

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Jose Maria Gimenez

Barcelona are very interested in signing Real Madrid target Jose Maria Gimenez, Spanish newspaper OKDiario has claimed.

The Atletico Madrid man has caught the attention of several European giants, and it seems that Diego Simeone will have it difficult to keep him in the squad for next season.

A few days ago, Spanish press reported that Los Blancos were ready to pay Gimenez’s 60-million-euro buy-out clause. However, according to OKDiario, the 21-year-old would prefer to move to Barcelona, and he would agree to a move should the clubs reach an agreement.

Yet, it seems highly unlikely that Atletico will let their young talent leave unless any club pays his buy-out clause. Barcelona are not willing to spend such a high amount, and they are also eyeing cheaper defenders such as Marquinhos and Aymeric Laporte.

Florentino Perez also has Marquinhos in his wish-list, as the Paris Saint Germain man is reportedly seeking to leave Paris. However, he hasn’t decided whose signing he will attempt first.

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