Athletic Club and Getafe Name Their XIs for a Mid-Table Six-Pointer at San Mamés

Athletic Club and Getafe have confirmed their starting lineups for Sunday's LaLiga fixture at San Mamés, a meeting between two sides separated by a single place in the table. Athletic Club sit 15th, Getafe 16th, and kick-off is at 13:00 local time.

Ernesto Valverde has named a 24-man squad for the match, and the starting XI reflects the shape his side has settled into this season. Getafe arrive with their own settled structure. The team sheets are in; the tactical questions now have concrete answers.

Athletic Club line up in a 4-2-3-1. The shape puts two holding midfielders in front of a back four, with a three-man band behind a lone striker. It is a structure that asks the full-backs to provide width and the attacking midfielders to find pockets between Getafe's midfield and defensive lines.

The defensive pairing of Aitor Paredes and Daniel Vivian is the foundation. Both are named in the confirmed XI, and their partnership at centre-back will determine how Athletic Club handle Getafe's front two. Paredes and Vivian have the physical profile to contest aerial duels and the pace to defend the channels, but the 4-2-3-1 leaves them exposed if the holding midfielders are bypassed.

Alex Berenguer is the other key name in the Athletic Club lineup. Operating from the attacking midfield band or the left, Berenguer is the player most likely to break Getafe's lines. His selection signals Valverde's intent to attack rather than contain.

Daniel Carvajal is also in the confirmed XI. His presence at right-back gives Athletic Club a experienced option in the wide areas, both defensively and going forward. Carvajal's positioning will matter against a Getafe side that looks to spring forward quickly.

Getafe set up in a 4-4-2. Two banks of four, two strikers ahead of them. It is a shape designed to keep the game in front of them, deny space between the lines, and attack through direct transitions rather than sustained possession.

David Soria is named in the Getafe XI. The goalkeeper's distribution and command of his area will be tested by Athletic Club's 4-2-3-1, which is built to create crossing angles and overloads in wide areas. Soria's ability to claim crosses and start counter-attacks quickly is central to how Getafe turn defence into attack.

The 4-4-2 against a 4-2-3-1 creates a specific midfield problem. Getafe's central two will be outnumbered by Athletic Club's two holders plus the attacking midfielder. Getafe's wide midfielders must tuck in without leaving the full-backs isolated against Berenguer and Carvajal. If Getafe's midfield line drops too deep, the strikers become isolated. If it pushes too high, the space behind opens up for Athletic Club's runners.

Both teams have named their strongest available XIs. There are no surprise omissions in the confirmed lineups. The key players — Paredes, Vivian, Berenguer, Carvajal for Athletic Club; Soria for Getafe — all start.

The table context is unavoidable. Athletic Club in 15th and Getafe in 16th means this is a match between two sides who need points to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight. A win for either side creates breathing room. A defeat increases the pressure.

Athletic Club's 4-2-3-1 gives them the structure to dominate possession at home. Getafe's 4-4-2 gives them the shape to defend deep and counter. The game will likely be decided by whether Athletic Club can find gaps in Getafe's two banks of four, and whether Getafe can punish Athletic Club on the break when the full-backs push forward.

Kick-off is at 13:00 at San Mamés. The lineups are confirmed. The tactical questions now have answers on paper; the match will provide the rest.