Getafe begin their Copa del Rey campaign this Thursday, 29 October, with a trip to face lower-league side Lebrijana in the Round of 128. The match, kicking off at 19:00 local time at the Municipal de Lebrija stadium, offers a clear chance for the La Liga side to halt a worrying run of form.
The league situation is concerning. Getafe sit 17th in the table with just nine points from ten games, having suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Athletic Club last Saturday, with goals from Alex Berenguer, Iñaki Williams, Aitor Paredes, and Yuri Berchiche. Their recent form reads zero wins, two draws, and three losses from the last five outings, a sequence that has created pressure. This run includes a 2-5 loss to FC Lugano and draws with Rayo Vallecano and Universitatea Craiova. They have scored only five league goals while conceding fifteen. A reaction is needed, and the Copa del Rey provides a different stage to rebuild confidence before hosting Sevilla, who are sixth in the table, this Sunday 1 November at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Manager José Bordalás, who has not made specific comments about this fixture, faces the task of lifting a squad low on morale. His last starting lineup, against Athletic, was a 5-4-1 with David Soria in goal and a back five of Kiko Femenía, Daniel Carvajal, N. Gudelj, J. Valou, and J. Mojica. Ramón Terrats, Francho Serrano, Mario Martín, and M. Satriano operated in midfield, with Iván Azón as the lone striker, who scored in the defeat to Lugano.
They will face a Lebrijana side from the regional Liga Extremeña, a level far below La Liga, making Getafe the overwhelming favourites on paper. However, the Copa del Rey is famous for upsets, and the visitors cannot afford any complacency.
The immediate priority is to handle this tie and progress. A convincing win could act as a catalyst for the rest of the season, which includes a battle for La Liga survival, sitting eighteen points behind leaders Barcelona, and their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign. The league fixture against sixth-placed Sevilla awaits on Sunday, but first comes the mandatory trip to Lebrija.
