Xabi Alonso has warned Real Madrid not to get complacent despite a fairly strong start to LaLiga, with a trip to Getafe next up.
Madrid sit top of the league after the first eight matchdays, though they could slip down into second if Barcelona beat Girona on Saturday.
Their only loss so far was in their last away match after a crushing 5-2 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, but they bounced back with a 3-1 win over 10-man Villarreal last time out.
They now face a block of six matches in all competitions between the two international breaks, which includes a Clasico, as well as Champions League games against Juventus and Liverpool.
Alonso is expecting this to be a challenging period, but he is confident his side will be prepared.
"For me, once one period has passed, and I think about the next, I think it's the most complicated," Alonso said.
"We want to keep making progress in both competitions. We want to be consistent and perform well. The next stop is Getafe. They're a demanding opponent.
"We're being fairly consistent and reliable right now, but we can't get complacent. LaLiga is very tough, and every team will have to be prepared."
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) October 18, 2025
After a strong start to the season, Getafe are winless in their last four outings, losing 2-1 to Osasuna before the pause for the October international fixtures.
Madrid are boosted ahead of this match as they will have Kylian Mbappe in the squad after he suffered a knock to the ankle while representing France.
Alonso is also hopeful that Jude Bellingham is returning to his best following his return from shoulder surgery.
"Jude has been training and preparing for more time since his shoulder surgery," he said.
"We need the best Jude. He's eager to play well and make his team-mates play well. I see him happy in training."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Getafe – Borja Mayoral
Borja Mayoral, who scored his 50th LaLiga goal (195 matches) against Osasuna last week, has managed two goals in total in eight matches against Real Madrid in the competition.
However, he has not suffered more defeats against any opponent in the top flight than when facing Madrid (seven, including against Barcelona and Espanyol).
El Coli tiene que ser una caldera.#NextMatch ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/ljQa2FQADr
— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF) October 17, 2025
Real Madrid – Brahim Diaz
Although he has yet to score, Brahim Diaz has provided two assists in six appearances for Madrid in the 2025-26 LaLiga season, as many as he did in the entirety of last season (two in 31 matches).
Diaz has played just 192 minutes in the league this season, getting his assist tally from just six chances created and 0.9 expected assists (xA).