Humiliated Real pumped up for Getafe derby

It has been called Real Madrid’s most humiliating defeat ever in the local media with Tuesday?s 4-0 first leg Cup thrashing by third division Alcorcon giving coach Manuel Pellegrini and his Real stars food for thought ahead of Saturday?s home derby with Getafe.

Real have failed to win any of their last three matches and the shambles in Alcorcon – a team from the Madrid suburbs that have never played in the top-flight – has cranked up the pressure on Pellegrini for the derby duel with Getafe.

“It is embarrassing and a difficult defeat to stomach,” confessed Pellegrini. “We have to show our character and every single person has to take responsibility so that we can turn things around in the next game.”

Getafe have proved a difficult customer for Real in the past – triumphing 3-1 at home last season in a match that nudged Bernd Schuster closer to the exit door – and Real can’t afford to slip up any more with champions Barcelona three points clear at the top.

Pellegrini can bring in the rested Kaka who sat out the Alcorcon debarcle but Cristiano Ronaldo is still out injured with an ankle problem.

Real’s form has slumped in the absence of Ronaldo with defeats against Sevilla, AC Milan and Alcorcon along with a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon.

While Real have failed to score in their last two games Barcelona crushed Real Zaragoza 6-1 at the weekend and hope to carry on their good form at Osasuna on Saturday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in the Zaragoza rout to become the league’s joint top-scorer with seven goals but the display of Lionel Messi was the major boost with the Argentine back to his best after a dip in form.

“I didn?t have the happiest of times with the national team or in the Valencia game but I knew I would bounce back,” said Messi. “The coach and players supported me and the fans have always been behind me even when I didn’t do things well.”

Osasuna beat Barcelona 1-0 at Camp Nou on the penultimate day of last season although Barca had already wrapped up the title and fielded a string of youngsters.

Elsewhere, Quique Sanchez Flores is ready for his managerial league bow with Atletico Madrid beginning with a trip to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night.

Former Valencia coach Flores was presented on Monday following Abel Resino’s sacking and Atletico, a point above the relegation zone, hope he can guide the club back into the top four.

“The first thing we want to do is get the best out of the quality players we have,” said Flores. “I believe in the players and that we have enough quality to get out of this situation.”

Flores won his first match in charge with a 2-0 victory over Marbella in the Kings Cup on Wednesday and Bilbao are on the slide losing four out of their last five league outings.

Villarreal are another top side struggling down at the bottom although they got their first win of the season last weekend to move off the foot of the table.

Brazilian striker Nilmar scored his long-awaited first goal for the club following a club record 11 million euro move in the summer and hopes for more goals in the next match at home to promoted Tenerife on Sunday.

“Scoring goals always gives you confidence and now I want to go on a good run as does the team,” said Nilmar.

In other matches, third-placed Sevilla want to hit the goal trail again at Xerez on Saturday having failed to score in their last two league matches.

Sevilla have slipped six points behind pacesetters Barcelona and their title hopes could be over by Christmas if they don?t get back on track soon.

Valencia are just a point behind Sevilla in fourth and travel to basement boys Malaga on Sunday.

Malaga thrashed Atletico Madrid 3-0 on the opening day of the season but have not won since.

Fixtures

Saturday

Real Madrid v Getafe (1600 GMT), Osasuna v Barcelona (1800 GMT), Xerez v Sevilla (1800 GMT), Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (2000 GMT)

Sunday (all 1500 GMT unless stated) Real Zaragoza v Almeria, Real Mallorca v Racing Santander, Villarreal v Tenerife, Espanyol v Valladolid, Malaga v Valencia (1700 GMT) Deportivo La Coruna v Sporting Gijon (1900 GMT)