Deportivo Alavés - Getafe CF: season opener at Mendizorrotza
Deportivo Alavés and Getafe CF open the new league season with a head-to-head meeting at Mendizorrotza in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The first-round match will be played on 15 August 2026 at 19:30, so both teams start from zero: there is no accumulated points advantage, no room to count on repairing the impression later, and no current form from league rounds to rely on.
That is why summer preparation is particularly important when assessing this match. Deportivo Alavés recorded several convincing results during the preseason period, including a 1-0 win against Girona and a 3-0 victory against Castellón, while the match against Racing de Santander ended 1-1 before the shootout. Getafe had a more demanding run at the end of their preparations: they lost 4-1 to Atlético de Madrid and 1-0 to AS Monaco, while their final test against Tottenham Hotspur ended 1-1.
The difference in summer results does not automatically produce a favourite. The first league round is often more a test of organisation and physical readiness than a continuation of a run of preseason results. In this case, additional significance comes from the fact that Getafe arrive after a very good previous league season, while Alavés want to make immediate use of their home advantage.
It is worth securing tickets in time. Mendizorrotza is a compact stadium where the stands are close to the pitch, and the opening of the championship further increases interest in the match.
What is already at stake in the first round
Getafe finished the previous league season in seventh place with 51 points. José Bordalás's team thereby also secured a European programme for the start of the new season, which brings prestige but also an additional burden on the schedule. Already during August, Getafe must combine the domestic championship with European commitments.
Deportivo Alavés finished last season in 14th place with 43 points. The difference between the two clubs at the end of the championship was eight points, but Alavés's home results were considerably better than their performances away from home. Of their total 43 points, 27 were won at home. That is an important piece of information ahead of the match against an opponent that finished higher in the table last season.
The start of the new season therefore has a different context for the two sides. Alavés want to set the standard immediately on their own ground and avoid being drawn early into a battle in the lower part of the table. Getafe are trying to confirm that seventh place was not a one-off peak while at the same time distributing their energy between several competitions.
The first round does not decide the season, but it can quickly shape the mood. A win would give Alavés a good foundation ahead of the away match at Rayo Vallecano and the following home fixture against Villarreal CF. Away points would give Getafe confirmation that their recognisable competitive approach still works after the summer changes to the squad.
Alavés showed two possible structures in preseason
Deportivo Alavés's summer preparations were led by Quique Sánchez Flores, who tested two different structures - 5-3-2 and 4-4-2. This is particularly interesting against Getafe because both systems offer the possibility of closing the middle without completely giving up two players in the final third.
Alavés beat Girona 1-0 and then Castellón 3-0. Lucas Boyé scored twice in that victory, while Mariano Díaz added another goal. Boyé is one of the players Getafe's defence will have to control especially closely if he starts from the first minute: he is strong in contact, can receive the ball with his back to goal and allow the rest of the team to move higher towards the opposition half.
Toni Martínez also remains a serious attacking option. In the previous season, Boyé and Toni Martínez were among Alavés's most important sources of goals. In a two-striker system, their characteristics can be combined so that one looks for space behind the defence while the other stays closer to the centre-backs.
Antonio Blanco gives the home side balance in midfield. His role becomes particularly important if Getafe try to bypass midfield with long balls towards the forwards and then aggressively attack the second ball.
At the beginning of August, Alavés further strengthened their defence with the arrival of Argentine centre-back Nicolás Valentini. Such a move increases the options in the last line and fits well with the possibility of playing with three centre-backs.
What Alavés's preseason phase showed
- 1-1 against Eibar in the first preseason match.
- 1-0 against Girona, with a goal from Álvaro García.
- 3-0 against Castellón, with two goals from Lucas Boyé.
- 1-1 against Racing de Santander in the final test before the start of the championship.
The results themselves are not the most important part of preseason, but four matches without defeat show that the team found a certain level of stability before their first competitive appearance.
Getafe remain José Bordalás's team
There is no need to expect a complete change of identity at Getafe. José Bordalás still leads the team, and for years his football has been based on discipline without the ball, aggression in duels, compact distances between the lines and a willingness to take the match into a physically demanding area.
Such an approach often reduces the importance of possession. Getafe can spend long periods without the ball and still remain completely alive in terms of the result. Alavés experienced that in the previous championship at this same stadium.
In February 2026, Getafe beat Deportivo Alavés 2-0 at Mendizorrotza. Luis Vázquez scored the first goal after an assist from Luis Milla, while Mauro Arambarri converted a penalty for the final score. Alavés had their chances, but David Soria kept a clean sheet.
That is a useful tactical reminder for the home side. Against Getafe, a large number of entries into the final third means little if there is not enough quality in the final pass and shot. Bordalás's team are particularly comfortable in matches in which the opponent becomes impatient.
Getafe, however, have had problems this summer that could affect team selection. Christantus Uche was injured after a heavy challenge in a friendly against AS Monaco and left the pitch on a stretcher. Kiko Femenía also had problems towards the end of that match. Because of that, the final days before the trip to Vitoria-Gasteiz will be important for the final picture of the squad.
Getafe's final preseason match against Tottenham Hotspur ended 1-1. Alberto Risco put Getafe ahead with a volley before Tottenham equalised. After the defeat to Monaco, such an end to preparations at least produced a more stable result ahead of the first round.
Getafe players to watch
- David Soria - a goalkeeper whose saves often allow Getafe to stay in the match even when the opponent creates a greater number of chances.
- Luis Milla - important in distribution, set pieces and creating opportunities from midfield.
- Borja Mayoral - an experienced striker with a good sense of space in the penalty area.
- Djené - one of the key figures behind Getafe's defensive solidity and aggression.
- Mario Martín - a midfielder who brings energy and additional mobility in the middle.
Recent head-to-head meetings point to a tough match
This fixture has very often produced close matches in recent years. The broader head-to-head statistics also show a large number of draws, while the difference between the total number of victories of the two clubs is not large.
In the first league meeting last season, Getafe and Alavés drew 1-1. Ander Guevara scored for Alavés after a move following a corner. In the return match at Mendizorrotza, Getafe were more efficient and took a 2-0 victory.
It is precisely the result in Vitoria-Gasteiz that may be psychologically more important than the overall history of the fixture. The home side know that Getafe can give up parts of the pitch and possession and still punish a few incorrect reactions.
- Getafe 1-1 Deportivo Alavés - league match of the 2025/26 season.
- Deportivo Alavés 0-2 Getafe - league match of the 2025/26 season.
- Eight draws were recorded in the previous 18 head-to-head meetings.
- Getafe achieved six victories in that sample, while Deportivo Alavés recorded four.
This is the type of match in which the first goal can significantly change the plan of both teams. If Getafe take the lead, Bordalás gets exactly the kind of match his teams like to control. If Alavés score first, the visitors will have to open up more space than naturally suits them.
Where the match could be decided
One of the key areas will be midfield. Alavés must find a way to speed up play before Getafe are fully set. Slow horizontal circulation of the ball would suit the visitors because it gives them time to compress the lines and close the space between the midfielders and centre-backs.
The home side may therefore look for earlier vertical balls towards Boyé or another striker and then attack the loose ball from the second line. In a 5-3-2 system, the wide players must provide width; in a 4-4-2, the home side can create overloads on the flanks more simply, but with a greater risk that the two central midfielders become numerically overloaded.
Set pieces will be an important route to goal for Getafe. Luis Milla can deliver free kicks and corners with quality, while Bordalás's teams traditionally devote a great deal of attention to positioning and duels after such situations. Alavés therefore must not give the visitors crossing opportunities through unnecessary fouls.
Another theme will be patience. Getafe have no problem accepting a match with many stoppages, aerial duels and battles for the second ball. In front of their own supporters, Alavés will probably feel greater pressure to attack, but that is precisely when they must avoid unnecessary exposure to transitions.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly. The opening of the championship and the fact that the match is being played in the evening add extra appeal for supporters who want to experience Mendizorrotza at the first home appearance of the new season.
Mendizorrotza - an old stadium with stands close to the pitch
Mendizorrotza is one of the stadiums whose identity clearly differs from large modern arenas. It opened in 1924, and its current capacity is 19,840 spectators. More than a century of football at the same location gives it special importance in the identity of Deportivo Alavés.
The stadium is located next to Paseo de Cervantes, southwest of the historic centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Its distance from the central parts of the city makes it possible to arrive on foot, which for visiting supporters is often simpler than looking for parking immediately next to the stadium.
For matches, it is particularly important to check current traffic restrictions. The city has the Mendizorrotza car park, but the rules governing the use of the area around the stadium may change on matchdays. Parts of the parking area immediately next to the stadium have previously been closed while matches were being played for security reasons, so arriving by car without allowing extra time is not a good strategy.
Practical information for getting to the match
- The address of the stadium area is Paseo de Cervantes, Vitoria-Gasteiz.
- Mendizorrotza has a capacity of 19,840 spectators.
- The stadium opened in 1924 and remains at the same historic location.
- Those arriving by car should check restrictions and parking availability in advance on the day of the match.
- For visitors staying in the central part of the city, walking to the stadium may be the simpler option.
The exact opening time of the gates should be checked closer to the match because confirmed information is not available in advance. For the first round, it is sensible to plan an earlier arrival: security checks and heavier traffic can slow entry, especially shortly before kick-off.
Vitoria-Gasteiz before and after the match
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compact city in which a football visit can be organised without major transfers between the centre and the stadium. The historic centre lies north of Mendizorrotza, while broad green areas and pedestrian zones make it easier to move around the city.
For supporters arriving only for the match, it is practical to first leave luggage or the car farther away from the immediate stadium zone and complete the final part of the journey on foot. This reduces the possibility that traffic changes after the end of the match will prolong the departure from the city.
With an evening kick-off, it should also be expected that the greatest flow towards the stadium will occur in the hours immediately before the start. Mendizorrotza is not a huge arena, but the smaller capacity and the proximity of the stands to the pitch concentrate the crowd in a relatively small area.
What kind of atmosphere to expect
Alavés enter the season in front of their home stands after a positive run of preseason results. That gives the home crowd a reason for optimism, but Getafe are a very uncomfortable opponent for an opening fixture. The visitors arrive as the seventh-placed team from the previous season and have a very clear competitive structure under Bordalás.
The atmosphere should therefore also depend on how the opening twenty minutes develop. If Alavés impose high intensity and create early chances, the stands can quickly become involved in the match. If Getafe slow the tempo, win a large number of duels and force the home side into mistakes, the match can move into a more nervous rhythm with many stoppages.
For visiting supporters, it will be interesting to see what Getafe look like a few days after the end of their preseason programme and immediately before a dense run of matches. Rotation and physical fatigue will become more important later in August, so the opening league trip is an opportunity to collect points before the schedule becomes even more demanding.
Ticket sales for this match are under way. For a supporter who wants to watch a tactically interesting contest, the match offers a clear contrast: a home side that tested several formations during the summer and a Getafe side that for years have built a recognisable identity through solidity, duels and discipline without the ball.
What to watch from the first minute
- Whether Alavés will start with three centre-backs or a classic back four.
- Whether Lucas Boyé can hold up the ball under pressure from Getafe's centre-backs.
- How much Getafe will use set pieces and long balls to bypass the home side's pressure.
- Whether Alavés can attack the flanks before the visitors' block is fully formed.
- How Getafe will respond to absences or limited player availability after the final preseason matches.
The first goal could be the most important tactical moment of the match. A Getafe lead would give Bordalás the opportunity to make the space even more compact and leave the initiative to the home side. An Alavés lead would force the visitors to take greater risks and create more space for the home side's transitions.
For Deportivo Alavés, this is an opportunity to begin the new season at the stadium where they won most of their points last year. For Getafe, the away match is the first test of whether the team can carry the solidity of a season finished in seventh place into a year in which they will also have additional European commitments. That is precisely why Mendizorrotza immediately offers, in the first round, a match that in terms of tempo, duels and tactical patience could look like a fixture from a much later stage of the championship.
Sources:
- LaLiga - kick-off time, venue and information for Deportivo Alavés - Getafe CF in the first round of the 2026/27 season, as well as records of previous head-to-head matches.
- Deportivo Alavés - information about Mendizorrotza, the current squad and club news, including the arrival of Nicolás Valentini.
- Getafe CF - current squad, coach José Bordalás and information from the preseason period.
- AS - Deportivo Alavés's preparations, formations tested, results against Girona and Castellón, as well as Getafe's final preparations and Christantus Uche's injury.
- Cadena SER - Getafe's final position in the 2025/26 season and the context of European commitments.
- ESPN and Goal - results of Deportivo Alavés and Getafe preseason matches during July and August 2026.
- Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council - information about parking in the Mendizorrotza area.