Athletic Bilbao arrives at SanMamés with the urgency of adding the three points it needs to continue with the hope of finishing the season as a finalist. The team, which has played only a quarter of the competition, faces Getafe in a match that, according to captain IñakiWilliams, “is the first final we have started this Sunday.” The pressure falls on German coach IvanTerzic, who must show if his project is moving forward or remains stagnant after a streak of four games without a victory.
Since the victory over Atlético de Madrid on September 5, the lions have drawn against Elche, Alavés and Valencia, and lost against the granotas. With only eight goals scored and two in the last four complete games, the team has not generated the necessary opportunities to score. NicoWilliams, who returned to the squad after an international injury, may appear in the starting XI, although doubt remains over his availability. The most probable eleven includes UnaiSimón, Areso, Yeray, Paredes, Yuri, Gere, Galarreta, RobertNavarro, Berenguer, NicoWilliams and IñakiWilliams, with Maroan as an attack reserve and the possible call-up of Vizcay.
Getafe, for its part, is going through an internal crisis after the controversy of the 2‑5 against Lugano in the Conference League, where president JoséBordalás felt “cheated” by the lack of fulfillment of the club's promises. Coach ÁngelTorres responded firmly, defending the quality of the squad. The Madrid team, with nine points in nine games, has not scored or scored away from home, with four defeats on the road against Alavés, Osasuna, Betis and Barça. In the Conference League they have not been able to triumph at home either, with a defeat against Partizan and a draw against UniversitateaCraiova. At SanMamés, however, Getafe have recorded four draws and one victory in previous seasons, which gives them a certain psychological advantage.
The match is shaping up to be a litmus test for both teams. Athletic needs the victory to keep the illusion of a final alive, while Getafe seeks to prevent the internal crisis from translating into a defeat that increases the pressure before the next round of the League and the Cup. With the Getafe squad partially injured and the French central defender suspended, the probable eleven includes DavidSoria, Carvajal, Valou, Sazonov, Mojica, Terrats, Gudelj, Francho, MarioMartín, Satriano and EnesÜnal. The result of this match will decide who makes it to the group stage of the Cup and who continues to fight for a finalist spot in the league.