Athletic Bilbao vs Eibar preview - Valverde refuses to panic

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde insists no one should be ringing alarm bells about his team just yet even though they lie in the relegation zone.

The Basques suffered their fourth defeat of a campaign still in its early stages on Wednesday, losing 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano.

The defeat also marked the first time the side have lost their first three away games of the season since 2004-05, when Valverde was playing for the team as a midfielder, and it was enough for the club to sack Javier Clemente.

However, on the eve of a Basque derby against newly promoted Eibar, Valverde said: "It's too early in the season to talk about treating games like finals."

The coach recognised that his side had not got the results expected of them this season, especially after finishing fourth in the Primera Division last year.

"We've lost too many games and the league table doesn't lie," he admitted, before adding: "We are in the position we're in because we haven't been doing some things right, but I sincerely believe that it's not logical given the games we have played.

"However, that is no consolation. We are down there and we need to persevere with our play to try and swing the balance towards our side."

The visit to San Mames of Eibar, the club with the smallest budget and stadium in the division, is in theory the ideal game for Athletic to kickstart their season, but Valverde does not see it that way.

"They have nothing to lose and will come here with the hope of doing something big," he said.

"And of course it's also a derby and so the role of the favourite goes out the window."

Eibar are ninth in the table having taken seven points in their first ever season in the top flight, and have already taken the scalp of one neighbour this season, beating Real Sociedad on the opening day.

Valverde added: "They are doing very well and it's a pleasant surprise for everyone to see how well they are doing in the Primera Division."

The coach confirmed that Carlos Gurpegi is likely to miss the game after taking a knock during the defeat to Rayo, but announced that Ibai Gomez has recovered from a muscle strain that kept him out of the last two league games.

Eibar forward Manu del Moral is still out with an ankle injury and defender Eneko Boveda is a doubt.