MADRID, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Two interesting games get the new LaLiga season underway on Thursday as Athletic Club Bilbao entertain Getafe, while Girona travel to face Betis.

Copa del Rey winners Athletic Club have the honor of starting the season, and although the mood around the club is buoyant after fending off FC Barcelona's attempts to sign Spain international winger Nico Williams after his brilliant performances in the European Championships, coach Ernesto Valverde has some problems ahead of Thursday's game.

Spain international goalkeeper Unai Simon is out for three months after needing a wrist operation following the European Championships, while his understudy Julen Agirrezabala misses out with a pre-season back injury.

That leaves Mexican Under-23 keeper Alex Padilla, who hasn't been entirely convincing in pre-season, to start in front of a defense lacking Spain international Dani Vivian as he gets up to fitness following the European Championships.

New signing Andoni Gorosabal will debut at right back, but the summer's other arrival Alvaro Djalo looks likely to miss out with a muscle problem.

Getafe have lost attacking power over the summer, with Mason Greenwood, Jaime Mata and Jaime Latasa all leaving, but Jose Bordalas can be relied on to put out a side that gives little away in defense.

Girona were the surprise package of last season as they battled for the title for much of the campaign, and ended up with a historic classification for the Champions League.

Perhaps Michel Sanchez's side have been victims of their own success, with several key players leaving the squad looking considerably weaker. Savinho, Eric Garcia, Pablo Torres and Yan Couto have left after loan spells, top scorer Arten Dovbyk moved to Roma, while influential midfielder Aleix Garcia has joined Bayer Leverkusen.

Oriol Romeu has returned from Barca, while Bryan Gil, Donny van der Beek and Ladislav Krejci are interesting replacements, but Girona's pre-season results have seen them concede a lot of goals and they will need time to bed in.

Betis were rocked on Tuesday by the loss of forward Ayoze Perez to Villarreal and have also made plenty of changes over the summer, with Marc Roca and Diego Llorente from Leeds United two of their biggest signings. Enditem

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