Unable to link more than two consecutive victories in the championship this season, the rojiblancos occupy the eighth position, their best position in the last four campaigns, with 40 points, seven of the continental places, for that reason a success would raise the illusion of the Basques.
“We have to overcome the points from last year and be as close to Europe as possible,” Athletic coach Marcelino García Toral admitted in the run-up to the match.
The team from Bilbao fell 0-1 to Betis on the last matchday and hope to get back on the road to victory against a club that they have only beaten once in the last nine games played between the two teams in domestic competition.
The rojiblanco squad will have three sensitive casualties. Íñigo Martínez and Dani García, injured, and Julen Agirrezabala, with physical problems, but will recover Ander Capa, the only novelty.
Thus, the starting list would include Dani Vivian in place of Martínez, Unai Vencedor in place of García and the question of who will play behind Iñaki Williams, Athletic’s top scorer in the tournament with seven goals.
For its part, Getafe is going through a bad time in the last month, with three draws and two losses in the last five games.
The azulones are still in search of their first success away from home of the season after a moment of slump in the most recent matches.
Before this match in San Mamés, they did not go beyond the goalless draw against Valencia and a victory would allow Enrique «Quique» Sánchez Flores’ men to reach the break for the World Cup qualifiers with great morale, to later face the transcendental duel against Mallorca, direct rival for salvation.
The Madrid coach has no casualties for today, after David Soria recovered in time from his discomfort in his right calf. That is why he will appeal to his top eleven, with the only doubt as to whether it is Sandro Ramírez or Borja Mayoral who accompanies the scorer Enes Unal.
Matchday 29 matches:
Friday:
-Athletic Club — Getafe.
Saturday:
-Alaves-Granada.
-Elche-Valencia.
-Osasuna – Pick up.
-Lightning – Atletico Madrid.
Sunday:
-Spanish – Mallorca.
-Celtic — Betis.
-Cadiz-Villarreal.
-Seville — Royal Society.
-Real Madrid — FC Barcelona.
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