Getafe have built a reputation for making football about as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist. Unfortunately for José Bordalás, Brighton have spent this season proving they don’t particularly care who they’re playing.

Fabian Hürzeler’s side arrive in Spain sitting third in the Premier League, fresh from beating Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and with European silverware looking like a genuine possibility.

Saturday’s 1-0 victory over City was another statement result from a Brighton team that has already beaten Arsenal this season. Yasin Ayari scored the winner after just 11 minutes, and the Seagulls held firm to secure three points that kept them firmly among the early title contenders.

Their Conference League campaign has been slightly less spectacular, although four points from two matches represents a solid start.

Brighton opened with a comfortable 4-0 victory over FK Kauno Žalgiris before being held to a goalless draw by Czech side Jablonec.

Those results leave Hürzeler’s men ninth in the 36-team standings, just outside the automatic qualification places.

Getafe, meanwhile, have experienced a considerably more turbulent return to European football.

The Spanish side collected just one point from their opening two Conference League fixtures, drawing 1-1 against Universitatea Craiova before suffering a remarkable 5-2 defeat against Lugano.

That leaves Bordalás’s team 30th in the standings, although successive domestic victories have improved the mood at the Coliseum.

Their latest result, a 3-1 win over Sevilla, offered a reminder that Getafe are capable of competing with stronger opposition when their approach works.

And that approach is hardly a secret.

Bordalás has spent years perfecting a style built around aggressive defending, tactical fouls, physical confrontations and disrupting the opposition’s rhythm. Getafe have already collected five red cards in La Liga this season, with another dismissal arriving during European qualifying.

Brighton prefer something rather different.

Hürzeler’s side thrive on quick combinations, intelligent movement and calculated risks in possession. Their challenge on Thursday will be finding a way to impose that style against opponents determined to prevent the game from developing any rhythm whatsoever.

It promises to be an intriguing tactical battle, even if the football itself might not always be particularly pretty.

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What are the best betting tips for Getafe vs Brighton?

Brighton to win

Brighton have established themselves as one of the Premier League’s most impressive sides this season, and their 1-0 victory away to Manchester City demonstrated just how difficult they have become to beat.

Hürzeler’s team have already beaten Arsenal and City, while their opening two Conference League fixtures produced four points without conceding a goal.

Getafe have improved domestically, winning their last two matches, but their European performances have been far less convincing. A 1-1 draw against Universitatea Craiova was followed by a 5-2 defeat to Lugano, raising serious questions about their defensive reliability.

The hosts will attempt to frustrate Brighton with their physical approach, but the visitors possess greater technical quality and attacking depth. Their ability to remain patient against compact opposition could prove decisive.

Under 3.5 goals

Getafe’s 5-2 defeat against Lugano might suggest otherwise, but Bordalás rarely approaches matches against stronger opponents with an expansive attacking game plan.

The Spanish side prefer to disrupt possession, defend compactly and prevent opponents from establishing a rhythm. Against a Brighton team capable of dominating the ball, that approach is unlikely to change.

Brighton have also demonstrated considerable defensive discipline in Europe, keeping clean sheets against both Kauno Žalgiris and Jablonec.

Their 1-0 victory over Manchester City further demonstrated their ability to protect a narrow advantage. With Getafe expected to make this a physical, stop-start contest, a relatively low-scoring Brighton victory looks more likely than an open encounter.

Georginio Rutter to score or assist

Georginio Rutter could have an important role to play if Hürzeler rotates his attacking options following Saturday’s demanding victory over Manchester City.

The French forward is expected to return to the starting lineup and offers Brighton a different dimension through his close control, movement and ability to link midfield with attack.

Getafe’s aggressive defensive approach could create opportunities for Rutter to draw opponents out of position and exploit gaps around the penalty area.

Brighton scored four times in their opening Conference League fixture, and although Thursday’s match should be more difficult, Rutter has the technical quality to produce a decisive attacking contribution. His starting place should be confirmed before considering this market.

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How to watch Getafe vs Brighton

Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026

Kick-off: 8pm GMT (9pm local time)

Venue: Coliseum, Getafe, Spain

Competition: UEFA Conference League, League Phase Matchday 3

United Kingdom: TNT Sports / HBO Max, subject to final channel listings.

United States: Paramount+, subject to final coverage listings.

Canada: DAZN, subject to final coverage listings.

Getafe predicted lineup and team news

Formation: 4-4-2

Predicted XI: Soria; Kiko Femenía, Abqar, Valou, Davinchi; García, Djené, Francho, Alcántara; Borja Mayoral, Iván Azón.

José Bordalás will be without Christantus Uche, Juanmi and Zaid Romero, who are all sidelined through injury.

The Getafe manager is expected to make several changes following Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Sevilla, with Kiko Femenía, Davinchi and Borja Mayoral among those pushing for starting positions.

Djené Dakonam should provide experience in midfield, while Abdel Abqar is expected to feature in central defence.

Mayoral could partner Iván Azón in attack as Getafe look to improve on their disappointing European goalscoring record.

Brighton predicted lineup and team news

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted XI: Verbruggen; Costinha, Svoboda, Boscagli, Hadjam; Groß, Yalcouyé; O’Riley, Hinshelwood, Osman; Rutter.

Fabian Hürzeler remains without Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas, Femi Azeez and Zadok Yohanna, who are all recovering from injuries.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Pascal Struijk are also doubts, leaving the Brighton manager with decisions to make in defence.

Jack Hinshelwood, Matt O’Riley and Georginio Rutter could return to the starting XI as Hürzeler rotates his squad following the victory over Manchester City.

Diego Gómez and Yasin Ayari impressed at the Etihad, but Brighton’s busy schedule may encourage the manager to give other attacking players an opportunity.

Ibrahim Osman is another candidate to start, while Carlos Baleba and Yankuba Minteh provide alternatives if Hürzeler opts for a stronger lineup.

Getafe vs Brighton stats

• Brighton are ninth in the Conference League standings with four points from two matches.
• Getafe sit 30th with one point from their opening two fixtures.
• Brighton are unbeaten in the Conference League league phase, recording one win and one draw.
• The Seagulls have scored four goals and conceded none in their opening two European matches.
• Brighton defeated Kauno Žalgiris 4-0 before drawing 0-0 with Jablonec.
• Getafe drew 1-1 against Universitatea Craiova before losing 5-2 to Lugano.
• Getafe have conceded seven goals in their first two Conference League league-phase matches.
• Brighton defeated Manchester City 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
• Yasin Ayari scored Brighton’s winner against City in the 11th minute.
• Brighton are third in the Premier League heading into Thursday’s fixture.
• Getafe have won their last two matches across all competitions.
• The Spanish side defeated Sevilla 3-1 in their most recent La Liga outing.
• Getafe have received five red cards in La Liga this season.
• They also had a player dismissed during their Conference League qualifying campaign.
• Getafe last competed in a European group or league phase during the 2019-20 Europa League season.
• Brighton reached the Europa League round of 16 in 2023-24 before being eliminated by Roma.
• This is Getafe’s first Conference League campaign.

Getafe vs Brighton prediction

Brighton have every reason to approach Thursday’s encounter with confidence after another impressive Premier League victory.

Their success against Manchester City demonstrated that Hürzeler’s side can combine attacking ambition with defensive discipline, and those qualities should serve them well against Getafe.

However, this is unlikely to be a straightforward evening.

Bordalás has built his reputation on making life uncomfortable for technically superior opponents. His team’s physical approach, tactical fouls and compact defensive structure could frustrate Brighton for long periods.

The hosts also arrive on the back of consecutive victories, suggesting their confidence has improved following a difficult start to their European campaign.

Nevertheless, Brighton possess considerably more attacking quality than their opponents, and Getafe’s defensive performances in the Conference League have been concerning.

Conceding five goals against Lugano exposed weaknesses that Hürzeler’s side should be capable of exploiting, particularly if Rutter and O’Riley are given opportunities between the lines.

Brighton may need to remain patient, and the match could become increasingly scrappy if Getafe succeed in disrupting their passing rhythm.

Ultimately, though, the visitors have shown they can win matches in different ways.

A narrow victory would maintain Brighton’s unbeaten European record and strengthen their position in the race for automatic qualification.

Score prediction: Getafe 0-2 Brighton

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