Getafe vs Athletic Bilbao – News and Probable Lineups

Getafe and Athletic Bilbao will be looking to secure consecutive victories in Spain’s top division as they face off in La Liga on Sunday.

Athletic currently sits in ninth place on the La Liga table, trailing sixth-placed Celta Vigo by three points, while Getafe is in eighth, level on points with their opponents for this weekend’s fixture.

Match overview

Getafe and Athletic have both achieved similar results in La Liga this season, each recording 11 wins, five draws, and 13 losses across 29 matches, earning themselves 38 points. They find themselves just three points away from sixth-placed Celta Vigo in the race for European qualification.

The Deep Blue Ones, who finished 13th in Spain’s top tier last season, have celebrated victories in five of their last seven matches, including a 2-1 win against Espanyol in their previous outing.

At home, Getafe has faced challenges this season, accumulating only 18 points from their 14 matches at their own ground, and they experienced a 2-0 defeat against Athletic in the reverse fixture earlier in the 2024-25 campaign.

Earlier this season, Getafe managed to beat Athletic 1-0 at San Mames, but six of their last nine encounters in Spain’s premier league have ended in draws.

Jose Bordalas’ team is firmly in contention for a European spot as the season nears its conclusion, and a win on Sunday against a top-six opponent would significantly boost their confidence.

There is no denying that it has been a challenging season for Athletic, yet a top-six finish remains within reach, which would be considered a success given their difficulties in 2025-26.

This summer will bring an emotional transition for Athletic, as their iconic head coach Ernesto Valverde is set to resign, leading to a new figure taking charge next season.

The Lions will approach this fixture following a 2-1 home victory over Real Betis, with Dani Vivian and Oihan Sancet contributing to an impressive performance.

This result propelled Athletic into ninth place in the La Liga standings, just three points shy of the top six, although they have struggled with goal scoring throughout the season, managing only 32 goals.

In comparison, Getafe has registered only 25 goals in league play this season, focusing on a solid defensive strategy that has led to them conceding just 31 goals.

Getafe La Liga form:

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Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

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Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

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Team News

Getafe’s roster is stretched thin for this match, with seven first-team players potentially sidelined, including Juanmi and Borja Mayoral, both of whom are injured.

Abu Kamara and Davinchi are undergoing late fitness assessments, while three additional players are confirmed to be absent due to suspension, including Abdel Abqar, Kiko Femenia, and Allan Nyom.

The majority of the players from the match against Espanyol are expected to keep their places in the lineup, but Femenia’s absence will likely allow Mario Martin to feature on Sunday.

For Athletic, Benat Prados will miss out due to injury, while Unai Egiluz, Nico Serrano, and Aitor Paredes could also be unavailable due to fitness issues.

Nico Williams has been absent for Athletic’s last six league matches due to a chronic groin issue, but the Spain international may be fit enough to return to the squad this weekend.

Inaki Williams is set for another start on the right flank, while Gorka Guruzeta is expected to spearhead the attack for the Lions in the Spanish capital.

Getafe probable starting XI:

Soria; Dakonam, Duarte, Romero; Iglesias, Milla, Arambarri, Rico; Martin; Satriano, Vazquez

Athletic Bilbao probable starting XI:

Simon; Lekue, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Rego; I Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; the cross

In the last nine league meetings between these two clubs, six have ended in draws, and we anticipate another draw on Sunday, predicting the points might be split in a 1-1 stalemate.