Alaves come into this La Liga opener with real momentum. They ended last season strongly, losing just once in their final four games, and that survival scrap has forged a resilience you can see in their pre-season. A 3-0 thrashing of Castellon showed the attacking intent, and the 3-0 scoreline against Getafe in this very fixture on the opening day is a statement. They finished just one point above the drop last term, so this is a team desperate to make Mendizorroza a fortress from day one. The home crowd will be a wall of noise, and Alaves know a fast start could define their whole campaign.

Getafe, by contrast, are the ultimate low-block merchants. They scraped a 1-0 friendly win over Reading, but their La Liga record last season was grim in front of goal — just 32 goals, ranking 19th in the division. That is a team that struggles to create, relying on set-pieces and moments of individual quality. Away from home, they will sit deep, absorb pressure, and hope to nick something on the break. But that approach is fragile when the hosts are this motivated. Alaves look sharper, hungrier, and far more dangerous in the final third.