Athletic Bilbao and Getafe Brace for Another Tight La Liga Clash
This Saturday evening, all eyes will be on San Mamés as Athletic Bilbao prepare to host Getafe in what promises to be a closely contested La Liga encounter. Athletic Bilbao come into this fixture riding a decent run of form. They currently sit eighth in the table with 14 points from nine matches, only three points shy of third-placed Villarreal. Their domestic campaign has been marked by a sturdy defensive record, conceding just nine goals so far, which is among the best in the league, though scoring has been more of a challenge, with only nine goals netted in total.
Athletic’s recent form in all competitions has been encouraging. They bounced back from back-to-back Champions League defeats to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund with a commanding 3-1 victory over Qarabag at home. In La Liga, they have earned four points from their last two matches, including a home win against Mallorca and a goalless draw with Elche. Coach Ernesto Valverde will be hoping that this momentum can be carried into the weekend clash.
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Historically, the fixture between Athletic Bilbao and Getafe has been one where draws are common. Out of their previous 40 meetings, Athletic have won just 13 times, with 18 matches ending level. Getafe, meanwhile, have not beaten Athletic since February 2020, though seven of their ten league encounters since then have ended in stalemates, including a 1-1 draw last season.
Getafe arrive in Bilbao in 12th place with 11 points from their opening nine matches. The “Deep Blue Ones” have struggled for consistency, failing to secure a league win since their 2-0 home victory over Real Oviedo in September. Their most recent outing saw them lose 1-0 at home to Real Madrid, highlighting the challenges they face in the top flight. Despite this, Getafe’s squad still possesses enough quality to push for a top-half finish, with a game plan often built around a solid defensive structure.
Team news will influence the lineups on both sides. Athletic will miss Benat Prados, Yeray Alvarez, and Unai Egiluz, while Inaki Williams’ fitness remains under assessment after being substituted early against Qarabag. If Williams is unavailable, Alex Berenguer is expected to step in, with Gorka Guruzeta likely to continue up front after his brace against Qarabag. For Getafe, suspensions and injuries affect selection. Allan Nyom and Alex Sancris are out due to red cards, while Davinchi is sidelined until the new year and Abdel Aqbar is doubtful. Adrian Liso, who has scored three goals this season, is expected to start alongside Borja Mayoral in attack.
Given the defensive strengths and the historical trend of draws between these two sides, this fixture is expected to be tight and cagey. While Athletic Bilbao are favorites at home, a goalless draw seems a likely outcome. Fans can expect a tactical battle, with both teams looking to exploit small margins while keeping defensive solidity at the forefront of their strategies. San Mamés will surely be buzzing as both teams aim to gain crucial points in La Liga’s early-season standings.
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