Preview: Getafe vs. Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team news, lineups

Athletic Bilbao will be looking to win a La Liga match for the first time since October 23 when they head to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Monday evening to take on Getafe.

The Basque outfit are currently eighth in the table despite their disappointing run, while Getafe occupy 19th, having picked up just 10 points from their opening 15 matches of the campaign.

Match preview

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Getafe finished eighth, fifth and eighth in Spain's top flight between 2017 and 2020 but ended last season in 15th, and it has been a difficult start to the 2021-22 campaign for the capital outfit.

Indeed, a record of two wins, four draws and nine defeats from 15 matches has seen them collect 10 points to sit 19th in the table, two points from the safety of 17th position.

Getafe have actually only lost one of their last five in the league, though, recording two wins in the process, and they will enter Monday's contest off the back of a goalless draw at Mallorca on November 27.

Quique Sanchez Flores's side were in Copa del Rey action on Tuesday evening, meanwhile, booking their spot in the second round of the competition with a 5-1 victory over Mollerussa.

The Deep Blue Ones suffered a 5-1 defeat to Athletic when the two teams last met in January, but the corresponding clash during the 2020-21 campaign ended in a 1-1 draw.

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Athletic, meanwhile, will enter Monday's contest off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night, with Karim Benzema netting the only goal of the contest late in the first period.

The performance at Bernabeu was certainly encouraging, but it is now six matches without a victory for the Basque outfit, with their last success coming at home to Villarreal on October 23.

Despite the disappointing run of form, Marcelino's side are still up in eighth position in the table, collecting 20 points from their first 15 matches, which is a solid return taking everything into consideration.

Athletic are only four points off sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano on the same number of matches and will certainly believe that they are capable of pushing for a European spot this term.

The Lions have finished 11th and 10th in their last two La Liga seasons but claimed fourth, seventh, fifth and seventh in four straight campaigns between 2013 and 2017.

Team News

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Getafe will again be without the services of Sabit Abdulai due to a knee injury, while Vitolo is a doubt, but Jakub Jankto could return from an ankle issue.

The home side are again expected to line up in a back three for this match, with Damian Suarez and Mathias Oliveira operating in the wing-back positions.

Flores has options for change in the final third, with Jaime Mata pushing for a start, but the head coach is expected to stick with Sandro Ramirez and Enes Unal as a front two.

As for Athletic, Peru Nolaskoain, Dani Vivian, Yuri Berchiche and Asier Villalibre will be unavailable for selection through injury.

Head coach Marcelino will have been encouraged by what he saw against Real Madrid on Wednesday, but there could be a couple of changes to the starting side, with Inigo Martinez returning from suspension at the back, while Oihan Sancet could replace Raul Garcia in the final third of the field.

Oscar de Marcos, Nico Williams, Alex Berenguer and Mikel Vesga are also pushing for spots in the side, but the likes of Oier Zarraga and Unai Vencedor should retain their positions.

Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Mitrovic, Dakonam, Cuenca; Suarez, Arambarri, Maksimovic, Alena, Olivera; Sandro, Unal

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Lekue, Alvarez, Martinez, Balenziaga; Zarraga, Vencedor, D Garcia, Muniain; I Williams, Sancet

We say: Getafe 1-2 Athletic Bilbao

Athletic have not beaten Getafe away from home in the league since January 2016, but we just have a feeling for the Basque outfit here. Marcelino's side are certainly due a victory in Spain's top flight, and it would not be a surprise to see them shade a close contest on Monday night.

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