Racing arrives at the Coliseum today with José Alberto asking for something more than routine. The coach said on Friday that Getafe "lleva la competitividad a su máxima expresión," and he wants his side to meet that level after a week in which Felipe’s injury forced at least one change in the back line.
That is why Getafe Vs Racing Santander is drawing attention now. Racing is expected to keep almost the same lineup it used against Villarreal, but the central defense is no longer settled. Felipe is out, Sergio Martínez started last time, and José Alberto is still weighing whether Manu Hernando, Pablo Ramón or Facu González fits best into the next version of the team.
José Alberto’s warning was blunt. He described Getafe as a rival built on duels and divided balls, and he told his players to be careful not to end up with ten. The message matters because Getafe has already played two official matches this season, between LaLiga and Conference, and has seen a red card in each one. For Racing, that makes the match a test not just of form, but of discipline.
There is also a practical layer to the trip. Getafe did not sell tickets to visiting supporters because of stadium works, which leaves Racing to handle a difficult away game without that pocket of noise behind it. The setting fits the opponent: intense, physical and demanding, with little room for hesitation. José Alberto has framed it as a match that will measure what his squad is made of, not simply where it stands in the table.
Iván Martín is part of that calculation too. He has only two training sessions with his new teammates, and José Alberto said he must adapt even if he is in good physical condition. Giorgi Guliashvili is already training normally, but he is likely to wait at least one more week before joining the squad, which keeps the focus on the players already in the mix.
So the answer in Madrid is less about a surprise and more about execution. Racing is likely to look familiar on the ball, but its back line may not. The final choice between Hernando, Pablo Ramón and Facu González will tell the story of how much change José Alberto thinks this match can tolerate before kickoff.
