Real Madrid vs Getafe preview - Ronaldo: League is not two-horse race

Posted Saturday, September 10, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo does not believe the Primera Division title fight will be another two-horse race this season, despite the ominous start made by his side and reigning champions Barcelona.

Madrid and Barca have claimed the top two spots in each of the last seven seasons aside from in 2008 when Villarreal finished runners-up, while in the last two years the gap between second-placed Madrid and Valencia in third has been 25 and 21 points respectively.

The odds of it being a similar story this season look good, especially after Barca and Madrid both strengthened their squads this summer and started their La Liga campaigns with impressive wins.

Madrid thrashed Real Zaragoza 6-0 away on the back of a Ronaldo hat-trick while Barca defeated last season's fourth-placed side Villarreal 5-0 at the Nou Camp.

However, Ronaldo insisted in Gazzetta dello Sport: "I don't think the league will be a two-team competition. The league is highly competitive, like the English Premier League. They are the two best leagues. In ours it is not only Madrid and Barca, other teams have a chance of winning.

"The first round of matches doesn't count for much, I'd like it if everything continued like that, but I don't think it's possible. We'll lose games I'm sure."

While that may be welcome news to the likes of Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, Ronaldo also warned Madrid's rivals his team have also improved on last season, which was their first under new coach Jose Mourinho.

"Real Madrid are stronger this season. We have more experience, we understand each other better and the second seasons of Jose Mourinho are the best. I think we can have a fantastic season," the world's most expensive player added on his club's website.

Madrid continue their Primera Division campaign with a home clash against neighbours Getafe.

They won last year's corresponding fixture 4-0 with Ronaldo claiming another hat-trick - one of seven for the Portugal international in all competitions last term - while Getafe's new coach Luis Garcia also suffered at the hands of the former Manchester United player while in charge of Levante.

Ronaldo netted a treble as Madrid thrashed Levante 8-0 at the Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey just before Christmas.

Garcia, who took over at Getafe this summer after helping Levante avoid the drop, admits it is not easy to keep the £80million man quiet.

"We all think about how to stop him, but then he scores 40-odd goals. When you talk of the best players it's difficult to stop them," said Garcia, who concedes Ronaldo is not the only threat Getafe face tomorrow.

When asked what worries him most about Madrid, the 38-year-old said in AS: "Everything. They have a great counter-attack and use the space very well. They scored eight against me trying to take them on toe-to-toe and they also beat us when we got men behind the ball.

"But Barca and Madrid are not going to get every point, there is always a chance."

Getafe, who finished a point above the relegation zone last season, began their new campaign with 1-1 draw against Garcia's old club Levante.