Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Getafe CF

Here we go, Athleticzales! LaLiga 2024/25 is here. Athletic Club get the new season underway at San Mames with a tough opening day fixture against Getafe CF.

Ernesto Valverde's Lions will be hoping to hit the ground running in what will be a long and demanding campaign.

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Getafe CF

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 24/25 (Matchday 1)

Thursday August 15, 19:00 CEST

Tickets can be purchased via this link.
 

How to Watch
Check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the match
 

Team News
Valverde named a 22-man squad for the clash in Bilbao.

Unai Simón, Julen Agirrezabala, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Oscar de Marcos, Álvaro Djalo, and Nico Serrano are all unavailable.

Alex Padilla, Oier Gastesi, Adama Boiro (all of whom would make senior debuts if they played), Unai Egiluz and Mikel Jauregizar have been called up from Bilbao Athletic as cover.

Summer signing Andoni Gorosabel and Javier Martón, back from a loan spell, could make official Athletic Club debuts.
 

 

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything the gaffer had to say at his first press conference of the 2024/25 season.
 

 

The Opponents

Head coach: José Bordalas

The 60-year-old manager returned to the Coliseum for a second spell in charge back in April 2023. During his first stint, he got Getafe promoted back to LaLiga before leading them to Europa League qualification. Last season, Los Azulones finished in a comfortable 12th place with 43 points.

Summer signings:

There's been plenty of movement at Getafe this summer. Key players such as Enes Unal and Mason Greenwood have left the club, so they've brought in some fresh faces: Peter Federico (forward, from Real Madrid), Jiri Letacek (goalkeeper, from Banik Ostrava), Diego Rico (defender, from Real Sociedad), Alex Sola (defender, from Real Sociedad), Chrisantus Uche (midfielder, from AD Ceuta) and Carles Pérez (forward, loaned from Celta Vigo).

Pre-season form:

Los Azulones only pre-season victory was a 1-0 win over AS Saint-Étienne, while they drew with Coventry and Southampton, and suffered losses against Real Oviedo, Real Zaragoza and Atlético Madrid.
 

Previous Meetings

A relatively young fixture in LaLiga terms, Athletic and Getafe first locked horns in the top-flight back in 2004/05. In 38 matches, the Zurigorri have won 12, drawn 17 and lost nine.
 

Getafe have visited San Mames 19 times in LaLiga, with Athletic recording eight victories, seven draws and four defeats.
 

Recent meetings give a clear indication of how hard-fought this match tends to be. In Getafe's five most recent trips to Bilbao, there have been three draws and a win each.
 

 

The corresponding fixture in 2023/24 was a 2-2 draw. Athletic twice took the lead, but Getafe hit back each time. Yuri Berchiche and Iñaki Williams were on the scoresheet for Los Leones.