Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting de Gijon preview - Bilbao can make Champions League - Aurtenetxe

Posted Sunday, March 25, 2012 by PA

Athletic Bilbao defender Jon Aurtenetxe insists his side are still targeting a Champions League berth despite sliding down the Primera Division standings following three successive defeats.

Athletic earned glowing plaudits for their impressive elimination of Manchester United from the Europa League this month but the club's recent domestic form has not been anywhere near as successful.

Their last three league matches have resulted in defeats to Osasuna, Valencia and Atletico Madrid, and the Basque club find themselves down in ninth spot on 37 points ahead of Sunday's clash with lowly Sporting Gijon.

However, that tally is only seven behind fourth-placed Levante and the Champions League spots - and Aurtenetxe says his side will be giving everything to close the gap over the final stretch.

"We have the chance to get fourth place and we are going to fight until the end to achieve it. We're all hoping for that," he said.

Athletic were without star striker Fernando Llorente for the defeats to Valencia and Atletico because of injury but the Spain international has returned to training this week and could be a timely reinforcement this weekend.

Aurtenetxe said of the powerful forward: "We all know how hugely important he is for us. He's one of the best strikers in the world, but when he doesn't play then we also have to try and do things well."

Javier Clemente's Sporting make the trip along the north coast of Spain stuck in the bottom two of the standings after losing three of their last four games.

However, despite their poor run of form Sporting have not been pushovers, with Barcelona needing two late goals to claim a 3-1 home win earlier this month, while Granada and Real Mallorca both had to battle hard to claim 2-1 and 3-2 victories respectively.

During that spell, the Asturian outfit also claimed the impressive scalp of Sevilla with a 1-0 win.

Aurtenetxe said on www.elcorreo.com: "We know they will come out and give it everything, but we will be doing the same. They've been having good games under Clemente, although they've had some bad luck."