Getafe play their first ever UEFA Europa Conference League match on Thursday 15 October, travelling to face Universitatea Craiova at the Stadionul Ion Oblemenco with a 18:45 local kick-off. The Madrid side, sitting 14th in La Liga with 8 points, are aiming for a positive European start to move on from last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Barcelona.
Manager José Bordalás will be without new signing Dani Carvajal for the trip. The defender, who joined this summer after 13 seasons and 27 trophies with Real Madrid, is unavailable for his European debut with Getafe. His absence forces a reshuffle in a defence likely to keep its five-man shape with Djene, Gudelj and Romero at its heart. Striker Iván Azón, who scored the winner against Málaga, will be a key attacking outlet.
The opposition, the sole Romanian team left in European competition, arrive with confidence from their strong home form. "Universitatea Craiova has an advantage, with four wins in their last five home matches," noted the Bucharest sports press. The referee appointed for the match is Slovenia's David Smajc.
For Getafe, this trip is a chance to secure a win and boost morale ahead of Sunday's Madrid derby against Rayo Vallecano at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. The second leg of this play-off tie will be played next week in Madrid.
