Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is an intriguing and unpredictable encounter at San Mames in the Basque Country as the giants of Athletic Club welcome stubborn Getafe to the north of Spain this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / US – ESPN+
Athletic Bilbao preview: Basque improvement
Athletic Club come into this one on the back of a comfortable 3-1 defeat of Qarabag in their most recent outing, during the week, in the league phase of a UEFA Champions League campaign that had begun with back-to-back losses.
The Basque giants have been faltering at the start of this season but performances have improved for Ernesto Valverde’s men, despite the fact they were held to a goalless draw by newly-promoted Elche away from home last weekend.
Getafe preview: Belligerent under Jose Bordalas
Getafe are known for winding up their opposition and taking advantage from there but the opposite happened last weekend as they went down to nine men and eventually suffered a slender 1-0 loss to Real Madrid at the Coliseum last weekend.
Jose Bordalas continues to get results above what Getafe would generally expect as they sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table with three victories, two draws and four defeats in La Liga so far this season.
Athletic Bilbao team news: Inaki Williams out
Ghana international winger Inaki Williams suffered a groin injury against Elche last week and he is now sidelined for the hosts, with defensive midfielder Benat Prados also missing.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesus Areso, Dani Vivian, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Jauregizar; Alex Berenguer, Oihan Sancet, Robert Navarro; Gorka Guruzeta
Unavailable: Yeray (Disciplinary), Unai Egiluz (Injured), Benat Prados (Injured), Inaki Williams (Injured)
Questionable:
Getafe team news: Couple of suspensions
Those players that saw Getafe go down to nine men, Allan Nyom and Alex Sancris, are now missing through suspension for this one, whilst centre-back Abdel Abqar is a doubt.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): David Soria; Jorge Iglesias, Domingos Duarte, Djene, Diego Rico; Kiko Femenia, Mario Martin, Luis Milla, Mauro Arambarri, Kamara; Adrian Liso
Unavailable: Davinchi (Injured), Nyom (Suspended), Alex Sancris (Suspended)
Questionable: Abqar (Injured)
Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe prediction
Athletic Club will be expected to get themselves on the front foot here. There is a concern for the rest of this season that a small Athletic squad may struggle to deal with the intensity of UEFA Champions League football. Getafe head to San Mames seeking to again frustrate their opposition but they remain even more limited than usual with their suspensions and Athletic should ease to a victory this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe tip: Athletic Club to win
