Club friendly match: Getafe vs Reading, July 17
On Friday, July 17, the Oliva Nova sports center in Spain will host an international club friendly. La Liga side Getafe will put English League One outfit Reading to the test. For the Royals, this clash marks the grand finale of their intensive five-day training camp in the Pyrenees, while José Bordalás’s squad is only beginning to fine-tune its revamped roster ahead of the new Spanish season.
Getafe impressed last season, finishing in a lofty seventh place in La Liga. José Bordalás’s trademark style remains unchanged—tough, highly disciplined, defensive football packed with physical duels and persistent minor fouls. The Spaniards’ priority in these early pre-season fixtures is to get their defensive leaders, including Domingos Duarte and David Soria, back up to speed, while integrating new faces into the attacking line. Against a physically robust English opponent, Getafe will aim to control possession and showcase their tactical edge.
Reading, under Liam Richardson, arrived in sunny Spain on July 13. For this modest League One club, facing last season’s seventh-best team in Spain is a massive experience and a true test of character. The English side has been active in the transfer market, already signing striker Jacob Brown from Luton and bringing in Josh Stokes on loan from Bristol City. The Royals’ biggest challenge on the night won’t just be the quality of the opposition, but also the grueling summer heat—acclimatizing after the mild British climate. With temperatures hitting 30 degrees, the Brits will be pushed to their physical limits.
The gulf in class between Spain’s top flight and England’s third tier will be evident from the opening whistle. Even at this early stage of pre-season, Getafe boasts superior decision-making speed and technical ability. Reading, fatigued after intense training in Alicante, will likely focus on deep defending but simply won’t be able to hold off the Spanish attack for the full 90 minutes.
Prediction
Neither club is likely to deliver rock-solid defense in pre-season, but both are ready to show off their attacking flair. My prediction: total over (2.5) at 1.83
Álvaro Hernández
Dailysports's expert
