Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe preview - Valverde keen to end winless run

Posted Friday, April 17, 2015 by PA

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has urged his side to get back to winning ways when they host Getafe after losing ground in their battle to finish seventh.

The Basques lost their away games to Sevilla and Getafe and could only draw at home to Valencia, in contrast to their excellent run before the international break, when they strung together five consecutive wins to launch a late bid to catch Malaga in seventh, the final Europa League spot.

Fortunately for Athletic, Malaga could only pick up two points in their last three matches and are just six points above the Basques in the table, but Valverde knows time is running out for his side.

"Malaga haven't gone very far away from us in the table, but there are less games left now," the coach told a press conference.

"Last weekend (against Espanyol) we had a good opportunity but we didn't take it. We have to win five of our remaining games left, and even that might not be enough. We have to find our feet again after losing our rhythm after such a good run."

Valverde will have to make a couple of changes to his side due to the absence of Mikel Balenziaga through injury and Oscar de Marcos through suspension, while Iker Muniain is out for the remainder of the season and Ander Iturraspe remains injured with a muscle problem.

Getafe have three players out for the remainder of the season - Karim Yoda, Juan Valera and Angel Lafita - while top scorer Alvaro Vazquez is out with a shoulder problem, and defender Naldo is suspended.

Getafe head to San Mames in fine form, having taken seven points from their last three matches to move on to 36 points, just four behind Athletic.

Valverde praised the Madrid outfit for remaining focused despite having three different coaches this season.

"They haven't changed much compared to under their previous coaches," he said of Pablo Franco's side.

"Coaches leaving has not been traumatic for them in terms of results, and so you can say that their team has remained consistent. They are a settled team with quality.

"We have to remember how much we need to win the game and play with a lot of pace from the first minute. We have to take the initiative from the off and not have to play better in the second half than we do in the first."