Athletic Bilbao will be looking to make it four straight victories in all competitions when they welcome Getafe to San Mames in La Liga on Monday night.
The Basque outfit, who are currently 13th in Spain's top flight, won the Spanish Super Cup last weekend before beating Ibiza in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, but they will be coming up against a Getafe side that have recorded victories in their last two league games against Elche and Huesca.
Match preview
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Athletic have not actually been in La Liga action since a 3-2 home defeat to Barca on January 6, but they have played three times since then in two separate competitions, beating Real Madrid and Barca in back-to-back fixtures to win the Spanish Super Cup, before recording a 2-1 victory over Ibiza in the Copa del Rey.
New head coach Marcelino has therefore won three of his four matches at the helm, and the Basque side will now be looking to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight.
A record of six wins, three draws and nine defeats from 18 matches has left Athletic in 13th position in the table, two points behind 11th-placed Getafe, while they are just five points off the top eight.
Los Leones finished 11th last season after claiming eighth in 2018-19, and they will have their eyes on a possible top-half finish, particularly considering their two excellent performances against Madrid and Barca in the Super Cup.
Athletic have not actually beaten Getafe in the league since January 2016, though, with five of their last seven meetings finishing level, while Getafe have claimed two victories, including in the corresponding game last term.
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Getafe, meanwhile, will enter Monday's contest off the back of successive wins over Elche and Huesca, with the two victories following three consecutive defeats in all competitions.
The capital side have struggled for consistency during the 2020-21 campaign, picking up 23 points from 18 matches to sit 11th, and they have already suffered seven league defeats this term.
Jose Bordalas's side have finished eighth, fifth and eighth in their last three La Liga seasons, but it does appear that it could be a struggle to push towards the European positions this term.
Getafe have won three of their last five away matches in all competitions, though, and the club have recently boosted their squad with the loan signings of Barcelona's Carles Alena and Real Madrid's Takefusa Kubo.
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form: LWDLWL
Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions): LWLWWW
Getafe La Liga form: WDLLWW
Getafe form (all competitions): DLLLWW
Team News
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Athletic will again be without the services of Peru Nolaskoain through injury, but Inigo Martinez should shake off a minor knock to feature at the heart of the defence.
Head coach Marcelino will make wholesale changes from the side that started against Ibiza in the Copa del Rey, with the likes of Iker Muniain, Raul Garcia, Inaki Williams and Oscar de Marcos all set to return.
Unai Simon will also be back between the sticks, while Dani Garcia and Unai Vencedor are likely to get the nod in the middle of the park, with Mikel Vesga expected to drop to the bench.
As for Getafe, Erick Cabaco and Mathias Olivera should have overcome knocks to start, but Enes Unal, Victor Mollejo and Cucho Hernandez are unlikely to be involved for the visitors.
Mauro Arambarri has overcome an adductor injury and should continue in midfield, while recent signings Alena and Kubo are again expected to feature in attacking positions for the visitors.
Head coach Bordalas has options for change in the final third of the field, but Jaime Mata should again get the nod over Angel despite the fact that the latter has more league goals to his name this term.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Capa, Alvarez, Martinez, Berchiche; De Marcos, Vencedor, D Garcia, Muniain; R Garcia, Williams
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Yanez; Suarez, Cabaco, Dakonam, Olivera; Arambarri, Maksimovic; Kubo, Alena, Cucurella; Mata
We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Getafe
This is a very difficult match to call as both sides will enter the contest in good form. Athletic will be keen to return to winning ways in the league, but Getafe have shown a lot of improvement in recent games, and we are finding it difficult to separate the teams here.
