A war of words in Getafe and four away games without a goal – next stop San Mamés
Getafe arrive in Bilbao in turmoil. After Thursday’s 5-2 home defeat by Lugano in the Conference League, José Bordalás said he had been misled by the club over signings and that the squad was not good enough to compete „in three competitions, not even in one“. President Ángel Torres hit back the next morning, saying the door was open if Bordalás wanted to leave. Athletic have problems of their own. Edin Terzić’s side are winless in five league games, lost 3-1 at Levante on Wednesday and will be without Aymeric Laporte, who was sent off in that game.
«Me siento engañado de alguna manera, porque no se ha cumplido lo que se me ha ido prometiendo año tras año.» – José Bordalás („In some way I feel deceived, because what I have been promised year after year has not been delivered.“)
Predicted lineups: Athletic vs Getafe
Athletic’s appeal against Laporte’s red card was rejected, so they lose a centre-back who has started seven of their nine league games. Gorka Guruzeta (ligament injury) and Oihan Sancet, who is back on the grass after a calf problem, are also out. Nico Williams returned after three weeks out for the final minutes at Levante and is in line to start. Getafe’s defence is badly depleted. Djené, an ever-present in the league, is suspended, while Zaid Romero and Orel Mangala are still injured, so Sebastián Boselli or Ilia Sazonov will step in at centre-back. Enes Ünal is fit again and is pushing to partner Martín Satriano up front. The line-ups follow the predictions of Comuniate and FotMob.
Athletic Team News & Preview
Athletic’s problem is scoring goals. Since beating Atlético Madrid 3-0 at the start of September, they have drawn 1-1 with Elche, then played three goalless draws in a row against Deportivo, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia before losing at Levante. They have eight goals in nine league games, despite chances worth around 1.3 expected goals per game, and local media have been focusing on the problems up front since Guruzeta’s injury.
The defence has been much better. Athletic have kept five clean sheets in nine league games and conceded more than once only against Sevilla, Barcelona and Levante. Losing Laporte is a blow, but Unai Simón and Aitor Paredes, their best-rated player, give them a solid base against an opponent who rarely gets the ball into the box. Terzić still has the club’s backing, according to local reports, but the fans are growing impatient.
What works for or against Athletic
- Five clean sheets in nine league games.
- Nico Williams is back after three weeks out.
- Winless in five league games.
- Laporte is suspended after his red card at Levante.
Getafe Team News & Preview
Getafe’s league away record could hardly be worse: four games, no goals, four defeats, at Deportivo, Osasuna, Betis and Barcelona. They average 0.61 expected goals and only 2.7 shots on target per game, with 36.6% possession. Bordalás’s football is built on long balls, second balls and set pieces, and away from home that has produced almost nothing so far this season.
The defence is also stretched. Djené has started every league game, and without him and Romero, Bordalás has to reshuffle his back line. Dani Carvajal made his debut against Rayo last weekend, and the Lugano game showed how badly Getafe can struggle when they are forced to play in three competitions with a thin squad. Torres has said no action will be taken before the game and challenged the players to prove their coach wrong.
What works for or against Getafe
- Won 1-0 at San Mamés last season.
- No goals in four away league games.
- Djené and Romero are both missing from the back line.
- Played on Thursday, a day after Athletic.
Athletic vs Getafe Odds
Match Result
Double Chance
Handicap
Over/Under
Both Teams to Score
Half-Time/Full-Time
Athletic vs. Getafe Stats Comparison
Show Recent Results
Athletic vs. Getafe Form Guide
Athletic Form, Stats & Data
Athletic’s best-rated player is a centre-back, and that tells you where their strength lies this season. They are creating chances, but no one has scored more than twice in the league. If the finishing improves, Getafe’s patched-up defence could struggle.
Getafe Form, Stats & Data
Getafe create 0.61 expected goals per game and are the lowest-scoring side in this fixture by a distance. Their goalkeeper is their best-rated player, which shows how much of their game is about defending. Away from home, they have not yet found a way to create chances.
Athletic vs Getafe: Prediction & Betting Tip
I am not looking at who wins here. I am looking at whether Getafe can score. They have not scored in four away league games, they create very little, and they arrive after a week dominated by the row between their coach and president. Athletic have struggled to score, but they have kept clean sheets in more than half their league games, and Getafe rarely get into dangerous positions.
Set pieces could undo this bet. Getafe are physical and direct, and Athletic will be without Laporte at the back. The fallout from Bordalás’s comments could also produce a reaction from the players. Even so, Getafe’s away numbers are too poor to back them to score. I am backing Getafe under 0.5 team goals at 1.83 with Winz and see Athletic winning 1-0.