Athletic Bilbao's bid to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish in La Liga will continue on Friday evening, when they make the trip to the Spanish capital to tackle Getafe.
The Lions are currently fifth in the table, six points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, while Getafe are 10th, six points behind seventh-placed Real Betis in the race for Europe.
Match preview
© Reuters
Getafe have finished 15th in each of their last three campaigns in Spain's top flight, so there has been a huge improvement this season, with the capital outfit currently sitting in 10th position in the division.
Jose Bordalas's side are only actually six points behind seventh-placed Real Betis, so a late push for Europe cannot be ruled out, and they will enter this match off the back of a 3-1 success at Almeria.
Getafe have only lost one of their last five games in Spain's top flight, and a positive result on Friday would lead them nicely into their next fixture against struggling Cadiz on May 12.
The Deep Blue Ones have been strong at home this season, picking up 29 points from their 16 matches in front of their own fans, recording eight victories in the process.
Getafe are unbeaten in their last five La Liga games against Athletic, meanwhile, with each of those fixtures finishing level, including a 2-2 draw in the reverse match at San Mames earlier this season.
© Reuters
Athletic have won just one of their last 13 La Liga matches against Getafe, meanwhile, with that success coming on home soil in January 2021, and 10 of their last 13 league meetings have ended all square.
A draw is no good for the Lions on Friday, though, with a win required if they are to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish, as a damaging 3-1 loss occurred to Atletico last time out.
Athletic are fifth in the table, six points behind fourth-placed Atletico with five games left, so they will need to be almost perfect in the final stages of the campaign and then hope that Atletico slip up.
That said, fifth, and automatic qualification for the group stage of next season's Europa League, would represent a strong campaign for Ernesto Valverde's side.
The Basque outfit have finished eighth in their last two La Liga campaigns, while they have not been higher than seventh since 2015-16, with their last top-four finish occurring 10 years ago.
Athletic have played their best football at San Mames this season, but the Copa del Rey winners have also picked up a respectable 20 points from their 16 matches on their travels.
Team News
© Reuters
Getafe will be missing five players due to injury problems, with Mauro Arambarri, Juan Iglesias, Carles Alena, Domingos Duarte and Borja Mayoral out of Friday's contest in the Spanish capital.
Mayoral's absence has been especially damaging, with the ex-Real Madrid attacker enjoying an excellent season, finding the back of the net on 15 occasions in Spain's top flight.
On-loan Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood scored twice in the success over Almeria last time out, and he is again set to feature down the right, but there could be a change at centre-forward, with Jaime Mata pushing to come back in, having scored off the bench against the division's basement side.
Oscar Rodriguez should retain his spot down the left for the home side, while there is likely to be another start in the number 10 position for Nemanja Maksimovic.
As for Athletic, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta will miss out with the thigh problem that he suffered during the contest with Atletico last time out.
Yuri Berchiche remains on the sidelines, while Dani Vivian and Oihan Sancet are also absent through injury, but the squad will be boosted by the return of Oscar de Marcos, who was suspended against Diego Simeone's side.
De Marcos will return to the right-back spot, while Mikel Vesga should replace Ruiz de Galarreta in midfield.
Inaki Williams and Nico Williams will again support Gorka Guruzeta, but Sancet's absence could see the midfield bolstered by Ander Herrera.
An excellent season has seen Guruzeta find the back of the net on 14 occasions in 32 La Liga matches, while Inaki Williams has nine in the league and Nico Williams has four.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Carmona, Dakonam, Alderete, Rico; Moriba, Milla; Greenwood, Maksimovic, Rodriguez; Mata
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Yeray, Paredes, Lekue; Vesga, Benat, Herrera; I Williams, Guruzeta, N Williams
We say: Getafe 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
This fixture produces draws, plenty of them. On paper, Athletic are the favourites, but Getafe have been strong at home this season, while Athletic are inconsistent on their travels. It would not be a shock to see a home or indeed an away win, but we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
