Alaves will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins in Spain's top flight when they head to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Monday evening to face Getafe.
The visitors will enter this match off the back of a 4-3 victory over Sevilla, while Getafe suffered a 3-0 defeat to Girona in their second game of the new campaign.
Match preview
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Getafe opened their season with an impressive goalless draw at home to Barcelona, but they were unable to build on that result, suffering a three-goal loss at Girona last time out.
Jose Bordalas's side found themselves behind in the 12th minute of the contest in Girona and were unable to respond, with the home side scoring twice more in the second period through Cristhian Stuani.
Getafe will be pleased to be back on home soil on Monday, and they are unbeaten against Alaves in Spain's top flight since April 2018, but each of their last six La Liga contests has finished all square.
The Deep Blue Ones have now finished 15th in their last three seasons in the top flight of Spanish football, which is disappointing considering that they were eighth, fifth and eighth in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Getafe have been busy during the summer market, making seven new signings, while there have also been a number of departures, so there is a fresh look to the squad this season.
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Alaves secured a return to the top flight through the 2022-23 Segunda Division playoffs, but a disappointing start to the season saw them suffer a 1-0 defeat away to Cadiz.
The promoted outfit managed to return to winning ways last time out, though, as they shaded a seven-goal thriller with Sevilla; the Europa League winners actually led 2-1 late in the first period, but Alaves then scored three times without reply to lead 4-2 before conceding again late on.
Kike Garcia - one of eight new signings this summer - netted a brace against Sevilla, and it does appear that Luis Garcia's side will be a good watch this season.
Alaves are used to operating at this level, having spent six straight seasons in the top flight before their relegation at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and they will now be bidding to consolidate once again.
Matches against the likes of Getafe are likely to have a big say in whether they can avoid relegation this season, and Monday's affair will be a good test of their credentials early in the campaign.
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Team News
Getafe have four confirmed absentees for this match, with Jose Angel Carmona, Mauro Arambarri, Luis Milla and Enes Unal on the sidelines through injury.
Omar Alderete is also expected to be unavailable due to a muscular issue, but Jaime Mata has served a one-match suspension following his red card against Barcelona.
Mata should come back into the side, potentially at the expense of Borja Mayoral, while Portu is also expected to be introduced into the XI for Monday's contest.
Alaves will again be missing on-loan Atletico Madrid forward Giuliano Simeone, who picked up a serious ankle injury during pre-season.
The visitors are otherwise in strong shape, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla last time out.
Kike is certain to keep his spot at centre-forward following his two-goal showing, while Luis Rioja will again operate in a wide position for Garcia's side.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Suarez, Mitrovic, Duarte, Alvarez; Dakonam; Portu, Alena, Maksimovic, Mata; Latasa
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Gorosabel, Sedlar, Abqar, Duarte; Benavidez; Rioja, Guridi, Guevara, Alkain; Kike
We say: Getafe 1-1 Alaves
The last six La Liga meetings between these two sides have finished level, which is difficult to ignore when picking a result here. There is not an awful lot between the teams in terms of quality, meanwhile, and we are expecting the points to be shared once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
