Real Madrid could collapse if this match goes wrong | OneFootball

The final stretch of LaLiga has turned each Real Madrid match into a virtual final. Six rounds remain. Barcelona, who lead, on 73 points. Real, four points off them, with 69. Which is to say, if they want to stay in contention for the title, winning becomes not an option. And it's this Wednesday that the job is away from home, versus Getafe, at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

And don't be fooled by the table. Despite the gap in standings, this is the kind of game that can destroy an entire campaign.

Getafe has grounds to fight this time

This week's opponent is 12th placed, with 39 points. Eight points above the abyss. Alive, but not on their back. Survival not certain yet. And with six games still to play, the threat remains. One error here, one there, and the cost is cumulative. The situation compels Getafe to go for a result. And despite lack of recent sparkle against Real Madrid in matches, blue side has need on its side, and this has a tendency to disrupt game's rhythm.

History between the two cries out in unison

Real Madrid are the victors in the previous six games against Getafe in LaLiga. Worse: Getafe missed five of those without ever getting the net. Overall, it's 29 defeats at the hands of the Merengues in 39 meetings. Harsh stats, penning an uneasy past. To add to that, Real has won only two of the last 14 away to Getafe, maintaining an imposing road record. It's the kind of record that dictates respect before even the whistle. Real Madrid plays with the noise of math If they win, Real Madrid is in Barça's blind spot, searching for a slip. If they lose, they might hand over the battle to their nemesis. It's no exaggeration. And nobody knows that better than Carlo Ancelotti. The coach has stated it is as plain as day: the margin of error is zero now: "If we aren't balanced, we will struggle to win. If we are, we can win."

A fluff-free message. Having won the season on two fronts — Copa del Rey and LaLiga — Real can't lose their minds on the field. Or their focus.

Pressure? That, according to Ancelotti, is fuel

Ancelotti’s press conference had a different tone. Not just for talking about the game, but for leaving the door slightly open about the future. When asked about his fate, he said: “If one day it ends, I’ll be thankful and tip my hat to this club. Nothing more.” He knows decisions come at the end of the season, and success now could carry weight.

It's fascinating how some coaches buckle under pressure and others seem to drink it like morning coffee. Ancelotti falls into the second group. He labeled pressure, at this stage of the championship, as that which drives everything. "Stress is fuel for me," he summarized. With the calm of a man who has watched every storm blow over, but with the sense of desperation of one who realizes what still hangs in the balance. And it does. Real Madrid can go into the summer with two titles, or they can spend the next few weeks choking on the taste of near-victory.