Alaves come into this season opener with real momentum. They ended the last campaign on a high, losing just once in their final four games, and that late surge has carried straight into pre-season. A 3-0 thrashing of Castellon showed attacking intent, and the mood around Mendizorroza is one of quiet confidence. They finished just one point above the relegation zone last term, so there is a desperation to start fast and make their home ground a fortress from day one. That desperation, channeled correctly, can be a weapon.

Getafe, by contrast, are the ultimate low-block merchants. They scraped a 1-0 friendly win over Reading, but that tells you everything about their style — compact, ugly, and reliant on a single moment. Their 32 goals last season ranked them 19th in La Liga, which is a damning stat for any team hoping to take points on the road. They will sit deep, invite pressure, and hope to nick something on the break. But at Mendizorroza, against a side that finished the season with a spring in their step, that approach feels like a trap waiting to spring.