THE FIRST AWAY TRIP OF THE SEASON

Last season, Sevilla FC registered at least a point in 14 of their 19 away league games and they won no fewer than ten of them. Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla have managed to break an old Sevilla cliché that the team always did far better at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán than away from home. Now, his team have the chance to start off another season away from home on the right foot. With the relief of welcoming back Bono, Rakitić, and Suso, and the new inclusions of Montiel, Augustinsson and Rafa Mir, Julen comes into the second game of the season with fewer headaches than he did for the season opener against Rayo.

It remains to be seen whether Lopetegui will continue to use the three-at-the-back system that he employed during preseason and in the first-half against Rayo, or whether he will return to the 4-3-3 that he has almost exclusively used throughout his managerial career. Míchel's Getafe also went for three centre-backs against Valencia, which could result in an interesting match-up. Getafe will be without Marc Cucurella but welcome back Nyom and Darío Poveda. Getafe could have up to three former Sevilla players in their line-up with goalkeeper David Soria, Vitolo and Sandro who arrived from Huesca in the summer.

After a golden age in Getafe's history under José Bordalás, an old friend of both clubs has taken over the managerial reigns of the Madrid-based club. Míchel also crossed paths with Lopetegui at Real Madrid. Julen mentioned that Getafe 'maintain their essence and the same players' but that Míchel will give the team 'his personal touch.' In any case, he is expecting a strong, physical Getafe who will make life difficult should Sevilla want to match last year's win. In that match, an own-goal from Etxeita gave the three points to Sevilla after a very competitive 90 minutes that was barren of chances.

The match will be refereed by José María Sánchez Martínez who last presided over a Sevilla match in the very disappointing second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona. Under Sánchez Martínez, Sevilla have seven wins, two draws and five defeats.