Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla - Gurpegi sees Sevilla visit as a `final`

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Carlos Gurpegi admits his stuttering side can ill afford to drop any more points this weekend when they host fellow European hopefuls Sevilla.

Athletic had looked to be mounting a challenge for a Champions League spot a month ago on the back of four successive wins, but since downing Sporting Gijon 3-0 they have suffered four consecutive defeats.

That has seen the Basque giants slip down to sixth place with 38 points, 12 behind fourth-placed Villarreal and two behind Espanyol in fifth.

It has also allowed improving Sevilla to move level with them, with Gregorio Manzano's men having made up seven points on Athletic in the last three matches.

Gurpegi said: "It's a very important game against a direct rival. It would be a good day to get back to winning and we need to take advantage of our opportunities. We cannot allow another game to escape from us because our rivals are winning and we cannot slip behind."

He added: "We were all aware that sooner or later Sevilla were going to start winning games. They are a great team, you only need to look at the players they have in attack, they are goalscorers. They are a very dangerous opponent.

"With the head-to-head record, the fact we are playing at home and against a direct rival, I would class this game as a `final'."

Sevilla, who beat Athletic 4-3 at home so they will have the better head-to-head record if they can avoid defeat at San Mames, have beaten Hercules and Sporting Gijon in their last two homes games, while they twice led at Atletico Madrid last weekend before being held 2-2.

Coach Manzano said: "We are in a good spell, but the team still have to give a bit more.

"To get into the Champions League we depend on the others ahead of us. We're level with sixth, we are two points from fifth and it would be important to win."