Athletic Bilbao vs. Getafe (Thursday, 6.00pm)
© Reuters
The 2024-25 La Liga season will officially get underway when Athletic Bilbao welcome Getafe to San Mames for Thursday's evening kickoff.
Last term, the Basque side achieved Europa League qualification via a fifth-placed finish, while Getafe finished the 2023-24 season in 12th position.
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Getafe
Athletic proved to be a strong force at San Mames last season, winning 12, drawing six and losing just one of their previous 19 matches.
We think that will continue to make full use of home advantage this term, beginning with a narrow victory in Thursday's contest.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Betis vs. Girona (Thursday, 8.30pm)
© Reuters
Real Betis will get their 2024-25 campaign underway when they welcome Girona to the Benito Villamarin for Thursday's La Liga contest.
Los Verdiblancos will want to better last term's seventh-place finish, while Girona will have the difficult challenge of replicating last season's top-four finish.
We say: Real Betis 2-2 Girona
Both squads have experienced considerable change over the summer, and they will both be lacking confidence following underwhelming pre-season campaigns, which is why they may lack the belief required to claim all three points on matchday one.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Ben Knapton
