GETAFE, Spain (Interstat) — Mauro Arambarri’s second-half strike was the difference as Getafe opened its La Liga campaign with a 1-0 victory over Elche on Friday at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

In a tightly contested match that largely followed pregame projections, the lone goal arrived in the 56th minute, breaking a deadlock between the two sides. The result delivered a winning start for the home side while extending a frustrating beginning to the season for the visitors.

The first half was a cagey affair, characterized by physical midfield battles and few clear-cut chances. The tension boiled over just before halftime when Getafe’s Luis Milla was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute, a sign of the competitive nature of the contest.

The breakthrough came just 11 minutes after the restart. The build-up to the goal was a product of coordinated team play, with defender Dakonam Djené initiating the move. Substitute Rodrigo Mendoza, who had just entered the fray, also provided an assist, helping to unlock a stubborn Elche defense. The ball found its way to Arambarri near the edge of the area, and the Uruguayan midfielder made no mistake, firing home to send the home supporters into a frenzy.

The goal forced Elche to open up in search of an equalizer, but the Getafe defense, marshaled by the experienced Djené, held firm. The match grew increasingly fractious as the clock wound down, with three more players booked in the final twenty minutes. Getafe’s goal-scorer, Arambarri, was instrumental in maintaining possession and managing the tempo to see out the result.

The final whistle confirmed a victory that was narrowly predicted by statistical models. Interstat’s game simulator had projected the exact 1-0 scoreline, while its ELO system gave Getafe a slight 51 percent probability of winning, a forecast that proved accurate on the night.

For Getafe manager, the performance will be a satisfying one. Not only did his team secure all three points, but the goal was a product of contributions from both established starters and impactful substitutes. Djené’s assist from defense and the immediate impact of substitute Rodrigo Mendoza highlighted the squad’s depth and tactical execution.

The result immediately puts Getafe into the win column for the 2025-26 La Liga season, giving them a perfect record of one win and zero losses. Across all competitions, their record is identical, marking an ideal start to their campaign.

Conversely, for Elche, the defeat continues a difficult start. They now sit with a record of zero wins and one loss in La Liga, and an identical zero wins and one loss across all competitions. While they demonstrated defensive organization for large portions of the game, their inability to generate a sustained attacking threat or find a response to Getafe’s goal will be a primary concern. The team must now regroup quickly to find its first points of the season.

The match, played on a cool November evening in front of a vocal home crowd, sets the tone for both clubs. Getafe will look to build on this momentum as they continue their league schedule, while Elche is left to search for answers and its first goal of the new season.