Athletic Bilbao vs Cordoba C.F. preview - Bilbao facing injury crisis

Athletic Bilbao are facing an injury crisis in defence as they prepare to host Cordoba this weekend.

The Basques were already missing Xabier Etxeita through injury and Mikel Balenziaga due to suspension but now also have to cope with the loss of captain Carlos Gurpegi, who injured his ankle during the Copa del Rey first-leg match at Alcoyano on Tuesday.

Ernesto Valverde now has three defenders ruled out for Saturday's game, while Mikel San Jose and Ander Iturraspe - both potential stand-ins at centre-back - remain doubtful after missing the game with Alcoyano with light injuries.

It means that 22-year-old Unai Bustinza could be set for his first league start for Athletic's first team, partnering Aymeric Laporte in the middle, with Jon Aurtenetxe stepping in at left-back.

Athletic have won four of their last six games and boast the third best run of form in the league - only behind Real and Atletico Madrid - but forward Ibai Gomez revealed he is concerned with the lack of chances his side have been creating in recent weeks, especially in the 1-1 draw with Alcoyano, who play in Spain's regionalised third tier.

"We are struggling to create chances and it's hard to understand how we found it so difficult against a team from Segunda Division B, who we played very badly against," the forward told a press conference, broadcast on the club's official website.

Athletic trailed Alcoyano for most of the game but avoided embarrassment thanks to Borja Viguera's injury-time leveller.

Cordoba head to San Mames bottom of the league and still without a win since returning to the top flight, even losing their Copa del Rey fixture with Granada 1-0.

However, Ibai warned: "There are no easy games in the Primera Division and they'll come here in desperate need of a win."

Cordoba's task has been made harder by the suspension of standout player Fede Cartabia, suspended from the trip to Bilbao after picking up five yellow cards.

The Andalusians will also be without injured centre-half Iago Bouzon and midfielder Fausto Rossi remains a doubt, but Aleksandr Pantic returns after missing the defeat to Villarreal for contractual reasons.