Expect Alaves to line up in their usual 3-5-2, with Toni Martinez and Lucas Boye leading the line. The midfield trio of Blanco, Alena, and Ibanez is the engine room — compact, disruptive, and capable of winning the second balls that decide tight games. The wing-backs will push high, stretching Getafe's shape and creating overloads in wide areas. This is a side built to control the middle of the park and feed their strikers.

Getafe will likely mirror with a 3-4-2-1, designed for defensive resilience and fast transitions. Their wing-backs, Davinchi and Femenia, offer width, but their job will be more about tracking back than bombing forward. The visitors will park the bus, invite pressure, and look to hit on the counter. The battle will be fought in midfield — Alaves' trio against Getafe's compact block. If Alaves can move the ball quickly and avoid getting frustrated, they will create chances. The key is whether they can break down a low block that has made a career out of frustrating better teams.