Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Guaita appeals to Los Che fans

Posted Sunday, October 23, 2011 by PA

Valencia goalkeeper Vicente Guaita has urged his side's supporters to play their part as Los Che try to bounce back from their midweek Champions League defeat against Bayer Leverkusen with a three-point haul against Athletic Bilbao.

Guaita, who makes way for Diego Alves in European games, was a helpless spectator on the bench as Valencia surrendered a 1-0 half-time lead against Leverkusen to slump to a 2-1 defeat.

That loss left Valencia in some trouble in Group E, lying in third place at the midway stage, four points behind second-placed Leverkusen and five adrift of leaders Chelsea.

It was also the second time in as many games that Unai Emery's side have failed to hold onto a lead having last weekend seen Real Mallorca equalise in stoppage time to claim a 1-1 draw in La Liga.

Valencia, who have only won once in their last six competitive matches, will now be hoping for better when improving Athletic visit the Mestalla, and Guaita wants to see everyone pulling in the same direction.

"We did enough (against Leverkusen) to get a good result. The team was pretty annoyed because we had to get a positive result," he said.

"What we need to do now is to recover on Sunday, get the win, and leave all the bad stuff aside.

"We have to be as high as possible in the table so that next year we can get back into the Champions League.

"It's going to be a difficult clash. We need to be united because a push from the fans can give you that extra effort which will keep the three points at home. We need to turn the page".

The 24-year-old also hopes Athletic will be feeling the effects of Thursday's Europa League encounter with Salzburg.

In that game Athletic recovered from 2-0 down at half-time to salvage a 2-2 draw at San Mames thanks to a brace of Fernando Llorente penalties.

"Athletic played on Thursday and they will be tired," added Guaita.

Athletic's fightback against Salzburg continued the team's good recent run under new coach Marcelo Bielsa.

After a slow start to the campaign which saw them win just once in their opening seven matches in Europe and the Primera Division, Athletic then recorded three successive victories heading into Thursday's game.

In Europe they downed big-spending Paris St Germain 2-0 while domestically they defeated local rivals Real Sociedad and Osasuna to climb up to 11th in La Liga.