Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla preview - Ekiza staying focused

Posted Sunday, April 08, 2012 by PA

Athletic Bilbao defender Borja Ekiza is refusing to think about the upcoming Europa League semi-final against Sporting Lisbon with Sunday's Primera Division clash at home to Sevilla taking preference.

Athletic eliminated Schalke 6-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals and are now one of three Spanish sides in the final four of the competition but Ekiza is fully focused on Sevilla.

"We have not talked about them (Sporting) because the next game is Sunday against Sevilla," he told as.com.

"Now it matters most to us because we do not throw any competition. All matches take the utmost importance and we respect our opponents and try to do our best possible."

Despite their success in European competition so far this campaign Athletic have lost four out of their last five league games with only a 1-1 draw with Sporting Gijon in that time.

Poor domestic form means Marcelo Bielsa's side are now in the bottom half of the La Liga table, four points behind Sevilla.

Michel Gonzalez has guided his team to eighth in the table and Spain striker Alvaro Negredo has insisted he and his team-mates will give their opponents respect but will still be going all out to secure the victory.

He told the club's website: "The team wants to work (together) and win.

"(We will show Athletic) a lot of respect because it is a great team and is doing a great season in the league and in the Europa League."

Sevilla go into the match with a much better recent league record than Athletic with three successive victories over Racing Santander, Granada and Mallorca.

Former Real Madrid striker Negredo has earned praise for his performances this season but refuted claims he is the focal point of the Sevilla side and committed himself to producing results for the club.

"The whole team is the architect of victory," he said.

"The end of the season I (will have done) well but the important thing is the team."