Cutting Bilbao’s deficit to sixth place?
Ten matchdays before the end of the season, Athletic Bilbao is still fighting for a starting spot in international competition. The Basques are currently in eighth place, seven points behind sixth-placed San Sebastian. Last week, Bilbao suffered a major setback in La Liga.
After all, the Basques lost the six-point game against Betis, currently fifth in the league, and thus missed the connection with the EL starting place. Friday night is now the chance for the Basque representative to make amends. At the Estadio San Mamés, after all, the home match against Getafe, the 15th in La Liga, is on the agenda.
The Basques’ Friday opponents have not won any of their last five league games. The last time Getafe had a win was in the first week of February, and the “Azulones” haven’t won a match since. It is quite possible that the negative streak will continue in Bilbao.
Last season, Getafe CF went down in the away leg in the Basque Country and conceded a heavy defeat in Bilbao. The “Azulones” scored a total of five times. If Athletic Bilbao win against Getafe again, betting odds of 1.77 are paid out for tip 1.
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
Athletic Bilbao has played a mixed season so far, bobbing around in the middle of the table for the most part. It was only in the second half of the season that the Basque top club found its way back to success. Most recently, however, the club reverted to its old ways, losing four of its last six competitive matches.
Among other things, Bilbao was eliminated from the Spanish Cup competition. After the draw in the first leg, the Basques lost the second leg against Valencia FC 0:1. This was a surprise, as in the previous rounds Athletic Bilbao had eliminated the Royals from Madrid and the Catalans from Barcelona from the competition.
Until the end of the season, the focus is now on the league competition, where “Los Leones” still have realistic chances of achieving one of the six starting places for international competition. The margin for further point losses is minimal – especially after the recent defeat to Betis.
Will the home strength be backed up against Getafe CF?
At home, Athletic Bilbao have won seven of 13 home games in La Liga so far. Overall, head coach Marcelino’s side have a home record of 7-2-4, and across competitions, Bilbao have won five of their last six home games at the Estadio San Mamés. If the next victory follows, betting odds of 1.77 on Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe for tip 1 are available.
Against the upcoming opponent, Bilbao has lost only one of the last seven home games since October 2012. Last time, when “Los Leones” hosted Friday’s opponent in their own stadium, there was a 5:1 thumping victory for the Basque representative.
Head coach Marcelino will have to do without only four players for the upcoming match against Getafe due to injury. There are no other absentees in the ranks of “Los Leones”. Compared to the starting eleven that narrowly missed out on a point against Betis last week, Bilbao are not expected to make any major changes.
Predicted lineup of Athletic Bilbao:
Simon – De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri – Berenguer, Vencedor, Zarraga, Muniain – Garcia, Williams
Last matches of Athletic Bilbao:
La Liga
03/13 2022 – Real Betis 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
03/07 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 3 – 1 Levante
Copa del Rey
03/02 2022 – Valencia 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
La Liga
02/27 2022 – FC Barcelona 4 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
02/20 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 4 – 0 Real Sociedad
Getafe – Statistics & current form
Getafe is still in a crisis of form. Because the “Azulones” have not won any of the last five matches in the Spanish top flight, Getafe slipped meanwhile already to the 15th place in the table. In the meantime, only four points separate Getafe CF from the relegation places, so there is currently no more room to lose points.
Nevertheless, it is more than risky to predict that the visitors will win a point in Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe. Especially since the “Azulones” have hardly been convincing away from home so far. In 14 away games, Getafe CF have not yet won a single match, but have drawn six and lost eight.
The offense has been particularly disappointing. In the 14 away games, Getafe has scored seven goals – an average of 0.50 goals per away game. In any case, Getafe has statistically one of the weakest attacking departments in the league. Only two other teams in the Spanish top flight have scored fewer goals than Getafe CF.
Does Getafe keep the Basque offense in check?
At least the defense of the “Azulones” knew how to convince. With 32 goals conceded, Getafe has even conceded fewer than last year’s champions from Madrid. If this continues, a match on a par with the Basque representatives from Bilbao cannot be ruled out.
Head coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who is skating on thin ice after his recent form crisis, has no personnel worries to complain about in Bilbao. After the strong performance against Valencia FC, no major changes are expected in the starting eleven.
On the offensive side, Enes Ünal is one of the few bright spots in the ranks of the “Azulones”. So far, the Turkish international has netted 13 goals, making him Getafe CF’s top scorer. This month, Ünal has scored neither in the match against Espanyol nor in the game against Valencia. It’s quite possible that the goal drought will continue against Bilbao.
Predicted lineup of Getafe:
Soria – Suarez, Dakonam, Mitrovic, Cuenca, Olivera – Alena, Arambarri, Maksimovic – Mayoral, Ünal
Last matches played by Getafe:
La Liga
03/12 2022 – Getafe 0 – 0 Valencia
03/05 2022 – Espanyol 2 – 0 Getafe
02/26 2022 – Getafe 2 – 2 Deportivo Alaves
02/19 2022 – Cadiz 1 – 1 Getafe
02/12 2022 – Atletico Madrid 4 – 3 Getafe
Athletic Bilbao – Getafe Direct comparison / H2H record
This is the 34th time the two clubs have met. Athletic Bilbao leads the direct comparison against Getafe CF with a record of 11-13-9. The Basques have recorded eight of the eleven victories in their own stadium. In total, “Los Leones” have a record of 8-4-4 in 16 home games against Getafe.
Since October 2012, Athletic Bilbao has lost only one of the last seven home games against Getafe. In return, there have been a total of four victories for the Basques in this period. Two other matches ended in draws at the Estadio San Mamés, however.
Athletic Bilbao – Getafe tip
Athletic Bilbao is looking to make amends after the defeat in Sevilla. The Basques are still in the fight for the international places and have the sixth-placed San Sebastian within reach. Friday’s match against Getafe CF is therefore of immense importance for Los Leones, especially as Bilbao will also benefit from home advantage.
Athletic Bilbao’s recent run of form in their own stadium shows just how important home advantage is at the Estadio San Mamés. The Basques have not lost any of their last six home games across the competition. During this period, Athletic Bilbao have defied the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, among others.
The Basques have already bowed out of the cup competition, so the only chance for “Los Leones” to limit the damage is in the league competition. Having already lost the six-point game against Betis last week, Bilbao are already under some pressure to win against Getafe.
After all, seven points separate Athletic Bilbao from the sixth and thus final starting spot for international competition. We dare a forecast with a bet of six units on Athletic Bilbao vs. Getafe at reasonable odds on the host from Bilbao.
