Atletico de Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Simeone focused on Bilbao encounter

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insists Saturday's visit from Athletic Bilbao is more important than their final home game against Barcelona.

Simeone's side are about to relinquish the Primera Division crown they won so memorably last season, but the Atletico boss insists there is still plenty for his third-placed team to be proud about this term.

"We are on the path of being in the Champions League for three consecutive years and the club has not achieved this in more than 100 years of history," Simeone told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"The people coming here have to know our need for them to push, participate and that they are involved in the game because we have been doing a very important job for nearly six months.

"We have had many changes of players and the team is still competing and once again I repeat that tomorrow's match is more important than the Barcelona game.

"I wish for a (Vicente) Calderon that understands the time we are at in the league, the opportunity that we have playing at home and a stadium that participates and is not in silence."

Atletico are nine points adrift of league leaders Barcelona and seven shy of second-placed Real Madrid with four games of the season remaining.

As well as home games against Bilbao and Barcelona, Atletico have away matches at Levante and Granada to come and are currently on an unbeaten 11-game league run.

They have won six of their last seven La Liga games and Simeone said: "The players can always improve but the important thing is competing well and the team, other than playing well or not, always competes.

"I am worried about tomorrow's match but it is a good opportunity playing at home."

Bilbao are currently in eighth place but have not given up on qualifying for next season's Europa League after picking up seven points from the last nine on offer.

It has been an emotional week at the San Mames Stadium as 32-year-old club captain Andoni Iraola announced he would be bidding farewell at the end of the season to the club where he has spent 12 seasons and made over 500 appearances.

"I've been renewing my contract from season to season for the last few years," Iraola said at a press conference that was held to announce his decision.

"I had it clear in my head that I had to choose the right moment to do this.

"My mind has been made up since the beginning of the season.

"I don't know where the future will take me. I'm in no rush to make any decisions yet."

Fernando Torres is pushing for an Atletico start after coming off the bench to score the winner in the 1-0 victory at Villarreal in midweek.

Central defender Xabier Etxeita should return to the Bilbao back four after missing the 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad on Tuesday through suspension.