Porto vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Andres wary of Athletic threat

Porto goalkeeper Andres is taking nothing for granted with regard to the way either his team or Champions League Group H rivals Athletic Bilbao have started the season.

Ahead of Tuesday's clash between the two clubs in Portugal, the hosts, second in their domestic league, top the pool, while their Spanish opponents, 17th in the Primera Division, are bottom.

In contrast to Julen Lopetegui's Porto only losing for the first time in any competition this term in their last outing, Ernesto Valverde's Athletic are without a competitive victory since August.

But Spaniard Andres believes the Basques must be regarded as "a sleeping lion that can awaken at any time" and feels all four sides in Group H are quite evenly-matched.

Asked if Porto, who have so far thrashed BATE Borisov 6-0 at home and then drawn 2-2 at Shakhtar Donetsk, were favourites to come first, the former Osasuna stopper was quoted by Marca as saying: "Right now, yes - we have four points and are top.

"But we have three difficult rivals in the group.

"Shakhtar have European experience and although we have already beaten BATE, they also have a victory already (2-1 against Athletic).

"It is true Athletic have not done well so far, but they will be just as difficult.

"We are aware we cannot think we are more than anyone else."

On Athletic, who drew 0-0 at home to Shakhtar before their loss at BATE, the 27-year-old added: "They are a great team.

"They have very good players and are a very tight group.

"We have to see them as a sleeping lion that can awaken at any time.

"We are ready to face one of the best teams in the league, despite what the table says.

"They have started poorly, but they are recovering and there is still much of the season ahead.

"They also have a pretty good coach to turn around the situation."