Alaves begin the season with a home record that is hard to ignore. They took only 27 points from 19 home league matches last season, finished 14th in La Liga and were only one point outside the relegation zone. Getafe, by contrast, ended 2025 in seventh and arrive with a sharper reference point for this kind of game.
Alaves' home numbers
The concern for Alaves is not complicated. Their home return last season was poor enough to make this opener awkward, especially against an opponent that has already shown it can handle a tougher setting in summer. They were 14th, but the gap to danger was thin, and that kind of margin rarely gives much comfort when a new campaign starts.
Getafe earned a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in their last pre-season game on 8 August. That result does not decide anything on its own, but it does fit the idea that Jose Bordalas' side can make life difficult for better-resourced teams when the game gets tight.
Getafe's summer edge
Sports Mole's preview desk expects Getafe to take advantage, saying: "It is always difficult to predict what will occur on the opening matchday, but we are expecting Getafe to shade a close game in order to claim all three points."
The visitors' league finish supports that view. They collected 51 points across 38 matches and stayed in the top half of the table, while Alaves spent much of last season trying to get clear of trouble. The gap between the two clubs is not enormous, but it is enough to make the away side the more convincing call.
Christantus Uche adds a separate wrinkle for Getafe. Sports Mole say he will miss the entirety of the 2026-27 campaign after the serious knee injury he suffered in the recent friendly with Monaco, which removes an important option before the league has even begun.
The match is at Mendizorrotza Stadium on 15 August, and the opener looks like one where Alaves vs Getafe could hinge on whether the hosts can finally make their home ground less forgiving.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
