Getafe open their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign away to Universitatea Craiova on 15 October at 18:45, and they do it as Spain's only team in the competition this season. The tie is in Romania, not at the Coliseum, so Universitatea Craiova vs Getafe is the first European checkpoint for José Bordalás's side.
Getafe's domestic form gives the opener a bit more bite. They sit 14th in La Liga with 8 points from 8 league matches, and their record so far is 2 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. A LWLDD run is not the sort of background that lets a club stroll into Europe with much margin for error.
The league phase gives Getafe little room to waste points
This year's competition has been compressed into a six-round league phase with 36 teams in one table, and that changes the rhythm straight away. Matchday 1 arrives on 15 October and Matchday 6 on 17 December, before the knockout play-offs on 18 and 25 February 2027.
That schedule favours clubs that start quickly. Getafe do not have the luxury of easing into it, especially with their league form still uneven and a winter calendar that arrives fast.
The opener in Romania is the first test of whether Bordalás can make the most of a format that leaves little time for drift. Getafe are Spain's sole representative, and their first step is a trip to Universitatea Craiova on Thursday night.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
