Athletic Bilbao vs Partizan Belgrade - Sabin set not to underestimate Partizan Belgrade

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2015 by PA

Athletic Bilbao forward Sabin is taking nothing for granted when the Spaniards host Partizan Belgrade in Europa League action on Thursday night.

Athletic sit at the top of Group L, ahead of Partizan on goal difference, after recording a 2-0 victory in Belgrade last month.

Another win against the Serbians in the return fixture at San Mames would put the Spaniards on the verge of the knockout stages.

The Basque side are unbeaten in five games in all competitions, having won four of those matches, and unsurprisingly Sabin insists confidence is high in their camp.

"Our game is now smoother and better. We create a lot of danger in the (penalty) area," he told a pre-match press conference, as quoted on the club's official Twitter feed.

"Fatigue is always noticeable but when the streak is positive it is less noticeable."

But, despite their purple patch, Merino insists he and his Athletic team-mates know they are in for stern examination against the reigning Serbian SuperLiga champions, who missed out on a place in the Champions League group stages on away goals against BATE Borisov.

"We cannot relax for having won in Belgrade (in their last Europa League fixture)," he added.

"The idea is always to start from the first minute for the game. This is a club that lives in the quarry. It is a pride for the club and for us."

Partizan won their first two games of the tournament under the guidance of Zoran Milinkovic, who left his post a week before their meeting with Athletic last month, but the Serbians are winless in three since Ljubinko Drulovic took the reins.

A 1-0 loss at Metalac on Sunday was their fifth league defeat of the season but victory on Thursday would see them claim the outright lead on Group L with two games to play.