Athletic Bilbao will continue their bid to secure Champions League qualification when they travel to the Coliseum for Thursday’s meeting with Getafe.
The visitors are looking to claim back-to-back victories, while the Azulones are hoping to end a run of five consecutive defeats.
Match preview
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After 30 matches, Getafe were sitting in 11th place with 39 points to their name, with just two points separating them from the top eight.
However, their European dreams have since been quashed by a woeful run of form that has seen them lose three games on the bounce, including their last four without troubling the scorers.
After being beaten 3-1 by Las Palmas, the Azulones lost 1-0 in three consecutive games against Espanyol, Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, before they were thrashed 3-0 in Saturday’s away clash against Jose Bordalas‘ former side, Valencia.
While they have dropped away from the European place, the 13th-placed side are still in a strong position to achieve their overall objective of survival, boasting a five-point gap to the relegation zone with three games left to play against Athletic, Mallorca and Celta Vigo.
Getafe supporters will want to see a strong performance their side on Thursday after watching their team win just one of their previous eight home league matches (D2, L5).
However, their recent record against Athletic suggests that Getafe may have their work cut out to claim all three points, having failed to win any of their last eight head-to-head meetings since recording a 2-0 away victory in February 2020 (D7, L2).
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Athletic are fully focused on their Champions League qualification bid after their dreams of playing in the Europa League final at San Mames were ended by Manchester United in last week’s clash at Old Trafford.
After they fell to a 4-1 loss on the night and a 7-1 defeat on aggregate, Athletic showed great character to quickly pick themselves up to claim a narrow victory in Sunday’s home league game against fellow Basque side Alaves.
Manu Sanchez‘s 71st-minute own goal proved enough to seal a 1-0 victory to put Athletic on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since competing in the 2014-15 group stage.
Having collected 64 points from 35 matches, Los Leones are sitting in a strong position in fourth place, boasting a three-point gap to Villarreal and a six-point cushion to Real Betis in sixth spot, with just three fixtures left to play against Getafe, Valencia and Barcelona.
Athletic may be favourites for Thursday’s meeting with Getafe, but their recent away form does not offer too much encouragement, having won just one of their previous seven away games in La Liga (D4, L2).
They do at least have fond memories of their last trip to the Coliseum in May 2024 when they recorded a 2-0 victory courtesy of an Inaki Williams brace – a result that represented their first away league win against Getafe since January 2016.
Team News
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The hosts will have to assess the fitness of Real Betis loanee Juanmi, who has sat out the last two matches through injury.
Mauro Arambarri and Christantus Uche are set to return to the fold after serving their respective suspension periods.
However, Djene will serve the second game of a three-match ban, while Juan Berrocal is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards.
As for the visitors, they will have to assess Nico Williams and Inaki Williams, who are struggling with groin and hamstring injuries respectively.
Benat Prados is also a doubt for Thursday’s fixture after missing the win over Alaves with an injury he sustained in last week’s meeting with Man United.
In positive news, defender Andoni Gorosabel and attacker Alex Berenguer are available for selection after serving one-match bans for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Duarte, Alderete, Rico; Arambarri, Milla; Terrats, Uche, Bernat; Mayoral
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Paredes, Vivian, Boiro; Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta; Berenguer, Sancet, Gomez; Guruzeta
We say: Getafe 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic would have been buoyed by Sunday’s narrow win over Alaves, and while their recent home form has not been great, we think a game against an out-of-form Getafe side could prove to be the perfect opportunity for the visitors to clinch all three points.
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