Head coach Fabian Hürzeler has shaken things up as Brighton and Hove Albion face Spanish side Getafe in the Europa Conference League tonight (Thursday 5 November).
Hürzeler has made five changes to his starting side after the 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday (31 October).
Three of those five coming into the starting XI are Georginio Rutter, along with Malick Yalcouye and Jack Hinshelwood.
Rutter has already scored twice in Europe this season and Brighton have four points from their opening two games.
Yasin Ayari, whose goal decided the match at the Etihad at the weekend, is in midfield along with the ever-present Pascal Gross and Olivier Boscagli.
Jaouen Hadjam and Michael Svoboda also come into the side and are due to line up alongside skipper Lewis Dunk and Joao Costinho in defence. Bart Verbruggen will keep goal.
Getafe have picked up just one point from their opening two games but will be buoyed by having come from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 in La Liga on Sunday (1 November).
The Madrid side’s coach Jose Bordalas said that he was relishing taking on “one of Europe’s form teams”, telling a press conference: “They have an incredible squad.
“It is a tough challenge but we are approaching the match with great excitement. We are going to try to win, even though they are one of Europe’s form teams.”
Bordalas has made just three changes from the side that started against Sevilla, with Kiko Femenia coming in at the back for Dani Carvajal who is not registered for the Conference League.
Johan Mojica also comes into the hosts’ defence tonight. Ivan Azonis has been named to start up front, with Enes Unal dropping to the bench.
Hürzeler told a press conference: “We expect a tough opponent because I think when you play here in Getafe and when you see them playing also, for example, at the weekend against Sevilla, you know it’s a team that knows how to win.
“It’s a team that plays quite vertical, long balls, second balls, (who are) good in personal duels, and can be very intense in personal duels.
“Therefore, we expect a team that has a clear style of play combined with individual quality.”
Hürzeler said that Ferdi Kadioglu, Pascal Struijk and Femi Azeez had not travelled to Spain, having also missed the win at Manchester City on Saturday.
Maxim De Cuyper, Matt O’Riley, Diego Gomez, Charalampos “Babis” Kostoulas and Luka Vuskovic are all on the bench – as are Ibrahim Osman, Younes Ibrahim, Shane Nti and goalkeepers Jason Steele and Tom McGill.
The match is due to kick off at 8pm.
