Getafe Club de Fútbol now knows its path in the UEFA Conference League group stage following the draw held on Friday at midday. The Azulones, returning to Europe after their last appearance in the 2019/20 season, will face six opponents in a group stage that promises excitement and historic reunions.
The draw information was originally reported by the newspaper Mundo Deportivo. José Bordalás's team faces this new continental challenge from a solid position in La Liga, sitting ninth with 3 points from a record of one win and one loss in their first two games. Their next domestic fixture is a trip to Pamplona to face Osasuna on August 31st.
Which teams are in Getafe's group?
The draw has paired Getafe with six teams from across Europe. In away matches, the Madrid side will travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax, to Craiova to play Romania's Universitatea Craiova, and to Tbilisi to take on Georgia's Iberia Tbilisi. At home, at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, they will host Andorra's Inter d'Escaldes, England's Brighton & Hove Albion, and Switzerland's FC Lugano.
Each team will play a total of six matches in this group stage, a lower number than the eight matchdays played in the Champions League and Europa League group phases. The final of this edition of the Conference League will be held at the Besiktas Park in Istanbul.
Why is the Ajax match a spicy fixture?
The clash with Ajax is no ordinary opponent for the Getafe faithful. The two teams already met in the round of 16 of the 2019/20 Europa League, Getafe's last European campaign until now. That tie was marked by high tension and public disagreements between the then-managers, José Bordalás for Getafe and Erik ten Hag for Ajax. The Spanish side managed to eliminate the Dutch, making this new meeting in the Conference League a reunion loaded with history.
This European context comes at the start of the season for Getafe, who in La Liga have scored one goal and conceded three, giving them a -2 goal difference. They are 3 points behind the leaders, Barcelona. Fans can follow the team's progress on our standings page.
What does Inter d'Escaldes' debut mean?
One of the most unique opponents in the group is Inter d'Escaldes. This Andorran team will make history by becoming the first club from their country to participate in a European competition group stage. Their visit to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez will be a special match, not only for the sporting clash but for the milestone it represents for football in the small Pyrenean principality.
The squad that will take on this continental challenge can be viewed in our squad section. UEFA will announce the full schedule with the order of the matchdays before Sunday, thus defining the exact path Getafe must follow.
What is the next step for the team?
After overcoming Partizan Belgrade in the play-off tie last Thursday and now learning the group stage map, Getafe must focus on the immediate future. The priority is the Liga match at El Sadar against Osasuna, who are seventh in the table. Once that commitment is over, the focus will return to Europe and preparing for a group stage campaign that begins with a high-voltage reunion against Ajax and a historic duel against Inter d'Escaldes. The team has a clear opportunity to advance in the competition and have a good European run to complement their objectives in the league.
