The highly anticipated 2024/25 La Liga season kicks off this week, bringing excitement and fervor as fans eagerly await the opening fixtures.
The action begins on August 15th at San Mamés Barria, where Athletic Bilbao will host Getafe. This match is significant for both teams, as they seek to set a positive tone for the season ahead.
Match Preview
Athletic Bilbao finished the previous season strongly, securing 5th place in La Liga with 68 points, which earned them a spot in the Europa League group stage.
However, they come into this match following a disappointing 4-0 defeat against Stuttgart in their final pre-season friendly.
The team struggled defensively, conceding two early goals and ending the match with a whimper as they conceded two more.
Prior to that, they had also lost to Aston Villa (3-2), although they did manage victories against Racing Santander, Eibar, and Osasuna in earlier friendly matches.
Despite these setbacks, Athletic Bilbao boasts an impressive home record, remaining unbeaten in their last 18 league matches at San Mamés, with 12 of those resulting in victories.
They have also historically performed well against Getafe, remaining undefeated in 18 of their last 20 encounters in La Liga.
Getafe, meanwhile, finished the last season in 12th place with 43 points. They struggled in pre-season, managing only one victory against Saint-Etienne, along with a draw against Coventry City and losses to Real Oviedo, Real Zaragoza, and Atletico Madrid.
Their last friendly ended in a 0-0 stalemate against Southampton, which did little to boost their confidence.
The statistics reveal that Getafe ended last season on a low note, losing their last five La Liga matches, including a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao at home.
Their away form has been concerning, with only one win in their last ten league fixtures on the road.
Head to Head
Historically, Athletic Bilbao has had the upper hand against Getafe, remaining unbeaten in 18 of their last 20 La Liga meetings.
This strong record could play a significant psychological role as the teams meet again.
The previous encounter saw Bilbao comfortably winning 2-0, further solidifying their dominance in this fixture.
Team News
Athletic Bilbao will be without their first-choice goalkeeper, Unai Simón, due to a wrist injury, and there are doubts surrounding Julen Agirrezabala, who is dealing with a back problem.
This situation may force Bilbao to field Alex Padilla in goal, which could provide some encouragement for Getafe.
On the other hand, Getafe arrives at San Mamés with a relatively healthy squad and no major injury concerns.
They have made several permanent signings this summer, including Peter Federico, Jiri Letacek, Diego Rico, Álex Sola, and Chrisantus Uche, which could add depth to their squad.
Prediction
Given Athletic Bilbao’s strong home record and their historical success against Getafe, we predict they will secure a victory in this opening match of the season.
However, with the potential absence of their first-choice goalkeeper, we anticipate that both teams will find the back of the net.
- Score Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Getafe
Betting Tips
Athletic Bilbao to Win: With their strong home advantage and impressive record against Getafe, betting on a Bilbao victory is a sound choice.
Both Teams to Score: Given the defensive uncertainty for Bilbao, a wager on both teams to score could be a promising option.
Over 2.5 Goals: Considering both teams’ attacking capabilities, betting on over 2.5 goals in the match might yield good returns.
First Half Draw: Given the significance of the opening match, a cautious start could lead to a draw at halftime.
