Alaves and Getafe Set for Cautious La Liga Opener
An in-depth analysis of the tactical battle ahead

Alaves

Getafe
An Early Table Platform Awaits Alaves and Getafe
Alaves and Getafe begin their La Liga campaigns with an immediate opportunity to establish momentum, as Estadio Mendizorrotza hosts the opening-round meeting on Saturday, August 15. With both teams starting from zero points, the first result of the season could provide an early lift in a table where Alaves are listed fourth and Getafe seventh.
Match Context
Kickoff is scheduled for 17:30 UTC in Vitoria-Gasteiz, with Alaves holding home advantage in the first competitive fixture of the 2026 La Liga season. Neither side has played a league match yet, so the current standings offer no meaningful evidence of a difference in quality or form.
The opening-round positions simply reflect the initial league listing, with both teams recording zero points, zero games and a goal difference of zero. That makes this an important chance to set an early direction, particularly for Alaves, who will want to use their own ground to take control of the occasion.
Form and Preparation
There is no recent competitive form data available for Alaves, while their home statistics also remain at zero wins, zero draws and zero losses because the league campaign has not begun. Their goals scored, goals conceded and clean-sheet figures are likewise all recorded as zero, so no reliable home trend can yet be identified.
Getafe’s preparation has produced a mixed sequence of one win, two draws and two defeats. They drew 1-1 away to Tottenham, lost 1-0 at Monaco, suffered a 4-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid, drew 0-0 at Valladolid and won 2-1 at Tenerife, scoring five goals and conceding seven across those matches.
Tactical Matchup
No formations have been supplied for either team, preventing a precise assessment of how their shapes may interact. Even so, Getafe’s preparation suggests a side capable of competing away from home, with the Tottenham draw and Tenerife victory offering encouragement before the trip to Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Defensive reliability may be central to the contest. Getafe kept a clean sheet at Valladolid but also conceded four against Atletico Madrid, while Alaves will look to turn home pressure into control without yet having an established league attacking or defensive profile.
Stakes and Prediction
The immediate reward is momentum rather than a decisive table advantage, but a strong opening result can shape the mood around either campaign. Alaves have the chance to make home surroundings count, whereas Getafe will aim to carry the more positive elements of their preparation into a disciplined away performance.
Alaves 1-1 Getafe is the predicted scoreline. With no competitive form established and Getafe showing both resilience and defensive uncertainty in preparation, the teams may cancel each other out in a cautious opening-day draw.
The table as it stands
| Logo | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athletic Club | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2 | Atletico Madrid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 3 | Osasuna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Alaves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 5 | Elche | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Barcelona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 7 | Getafe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 8 | Levante | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9 | Malaga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 | Racing Santander | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 11 | Celta Vigo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Deportivo La Coruna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 13 | Espanyol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Rayo Vallecano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Real Betis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 16 | Real Madrid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | Real Sociedad | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 18 | Sevilla | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 19 | Valencia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Villarreal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |