Almeria vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Benat backs Athletic to respond

Posted Friday, October 24, 2014 by PA

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Benat Etxebarria hopes the agonising manner in which his team lost to Porto in midweek will spur them on to beat Almeria.

The Basques lost 2-1 at the Dragao stadium to a late goal by Ricardo Quaresma after Guillermo Fernandez's equaliser, leaving them bottom of their Champions League group.

It was the second time in four days that Ernesto Valverde's side were left cursing their luck, having drawn 1-1 with Celta Vigo the previous weekend despite creating more chances than their opponents.

Athletic have now gone nine games in all competitions without a win, but Benat insists their poor run of fortune has only made them more determined to turn things around.

"We need to pick points up again but our dressing room is in good spirits," he told a press conference as reported in Marca.

"We are angry and hurt after playing well in two games and not having the luck we needed to get a result in our favour."

Athletic are still level on points with the two teams below them, Elche and Levante, who are in the relegation zone, but Benat believes it is only a matter of time before things start to improve for his team.

"We played better than Porto in certain spells in the game and we are convinced we are taking the right steps," he said.

"We have to keep on playing the same way, with the same intensity, but we need to win. I don't think we are playing badly. Once we get a victory I'm sure more will come and we'll put together a good run."

The good news for Athletic is that they have no fresh injury concerns for the game, while Almeria coach Francisco Rodriguez has a full squad to choose from.

The Andalusian side go into the game four places above Athletic in the league table, but forward Jonathan Zongo does not believe that makes Valverde's side easier opponents.

"We are searching for our first home win but Athletic are not a small team, they are a great team, even though they are near the bottom of the table, and we will have to perform very well if we are to get the three points," he told a press conference as reported in Marca.

"No matter who we are playing we have to play at our best, because every team is the same and we have to reach the same level, play with intensity and be strong."