Alaves will be bidding to continue their strong start to the 2024-25 campaign when they head to Madrid on Saturday afternoon to tackle a struggling Getafe outfit.
The visitors will enter the contest off the back of a 3-2 loss at Real Madrid, while Getafe's winless start to the campaign continued with a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona last time out.
Match preview
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Getafe are one of only two teams - the other being 20th-placed Las Palmas - yet to win in La Liga this season, with a total of four points from seven matches leaving them in 19th spot in the table.
Goals have been an issue this term, with the capital side having the joint-worst attacking record with only three strikes in seven matches, but there have been positives despite their lowly spot in the table.
Indeed, the Deep Blue Ones only narrowly lost at both Sevilla and Real Betis, while they gave a strong account of themselves in a 1-0 defeat at Barcelona on Wednesday night.
Jose Bordalas's side are under pressure to pick up a win ahead of the October international break, though, and their next two are both at home, with Osasuna visiting Madrid after Alaves.
Six of the last eight La Liga matches between these two sides have actually finished level, but Getafe won the corresponding fixture 1-0 during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Alaves will also enter this match off the back of a defeat, but they gave the champions Real Madrid a real scare during Tuesday's battle at Bernabeu.
Los Blancos were 3-0 ahead early in the second period; Alaves netted twice in the final exchanges through Carlos Benavidez and Kike Garcia to set up a grandstand finish, but the visitors could not find what would have been an incredible leveller against Carlo Ancelotti's side.
It has still been a strong start to the campaign for the Basque outfit, though, with 10 points from seven matches leaving them in eighth position in the table.
Luis Garcia's side, who finished 10th in La Liga last season on their return to the top flight, have won three of their last five in the league, including a standout 2-1 success away to Real Sociedad.
Alaves have been full of goals, finding the back of the net on 11 occasions, but they have conceded 10, which is actually four more than Getafe in the same number of matches (seven).
Team News
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Getafe were missing Nabil Aberdin and Alvaro Rodriguez through injury on Wednesday night, and the same two players are expected to be unavailable for selection this weekend.
The capital side have not reported any fresh injury concerns, though, so it is set to be the same squad from the clash with Barcelona, including Borja Mayoral.
The striker has now made three appearances off the bench since recovering from a serious knee injury, and it is possible that he could now be brought into the starting side for the first time this season.
As for Alaves, Nahuel Tenaglia will again be missing due to a muscular problem, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape for their clash with Getafe.
Head coach Garcia is expected to make changes from the side that started against Real Madrid, with Kike Garcia's goal set to earn him a spot in the final third of the field.
Ander Guevara is also expected to return to the XI, with Asier Villalibre and Antonio Blanco likely to drop down to the bench for Alaves this weekend.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Dakonam, Berrocal, Alderete, Iglesias; Perez, Uche, Milla, Santiago, Sola; Mayoral
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Mourino, Abqar, Diarra, M Sanchez; Novoa, Benavidez, Guevara, Conechny; Garcia, Villalibre
We say: Getafe 1-1 Alaves
As mentioned, six of the last eight La Liga meetings between these two sides have finished level, and we are expecting another stalemate here. It would not be a shock to see a narrow win either way, but we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw at Estadio Coliseum.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
