Getafe coach Luis Garcia is hoping that Real Madrid beat Barcelona in El Clasico to keep the Liga title race alive.
Los Blancos are eight points adrift of their bitter rivals going into Sunday’s clash at Camp Nou, and Garcia is keen for Jose Mourinho’s men to take all three points, though he insists it has nothing to do with personal allegiances.
“For the good of the league I do not want Barca to win, but not because I have any ill feeling towards them,” the 40-year-old told reporters.
“Last year I said the opposite, that I wanted Barcelona to win in their last league meeting, but this year I want Real Madrid to get the points because if not then the club is 11 points behind and that will be very difficult to overcome.
“That the two main contenders for the title, just seven days from the start, are 11 points apart is not good. Last year I said the same thing, but the other way around, to produce a more equal league. If they can catch up then they can fight tooth and nail all year.”
Madrid have hit a strong vein of form in recent weeks to put their early-season troubles behind them, following a 5-1 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna last weekend with a 4-1 Champions League win away to Ajax on Wednesday.
Tito Vilanova’s side, meanwhile, have maintained a 100% record in all competitions this season since their Supercopa defeat to Mourinho’s outfit, and Garcia is expecting another close encounter on Sunday.
“Barcelona are strong, this is true, but Real Madrid are progressing as the days pass and I think they are about even,” he continued.
“They have the dynamic for many goals and they are dangerous. In the game we will see Barca dominate, with more control, but Madrid have done great harm in their recent visits to the Camp Nou. I do not know who will win, but it will be very tight.”