Alaves come into this one off the back of a thumping 3-0 friendly win over Castellon at the end of July. That result will have put a spring in their step at the Estadio de Mendizorroza, a ground where they have historically been tough to break down. The Basque side are a club that feeds on intensity and home support, and a clean sheet in their most recent outing suggests the defensive structure is already taking shape. But it is only a friendly, so we should not read too much into the scoreline — the real test starts here.

Getafe, meanwhile, edged Reading 1-0 in their own warm-up fixture in mid-July. That is typical Getafe: tight, scrappy, and effective. They are not a side that blows teams away, but they rarely get blown away themselves. The Coliseum outfit have built their entire identity on being awkward, physical, and hard to play against. With both teams having won their most recent friendlies without conceding, we are looking at two sides that are defensively solid and not yet fully firing in attack. That is a recipe for a cagey, low-scoring affair.

Neither side has a confirmed coach or formation in the research, so we are working with the broader picture. Alaves, under whatever system they settle on, will likely look to press high and use the energy of the crowd. Getafe will almost certainly sit deeper, stay compact, and try to nick something on the break or from a set piece. The momentum is even, the confidence is similar, and the stakes are high — this is the kind of match that screams draw.