Getafe vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Bilbao out for European boost

Posted Monday, March 14, 2011 by PA

Athletic Bilbao will be looking to improve on their poor recent away form and give their European hopes a further boost when they take on freefalling Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Athletic have lost their last three fixtures away from San Mames, going down to Real Mallorca, Barcelona and Real Zaragoza, and striker Fernando Llorente admits they need to do better.

"The first half in Mallorca and in La Romareda (against Zaragoza) we didn't do very well and we're eager to have a good game," said Llorente, who nevertheless is not expecting a comfortable outing tomorrow at a venue Athletic have never won at.

"It's a difficult ground and it won't be easy. A couple of years ago we drew 1-1 and we deserved to win. That's the best memory I have."

Athletic ended a four-match losing streak with last weekend's 2-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Sevilla, a result that lifted the Basque side up to fifth spot, a point above Espanyol.

Llorente was not on the scoresheet in that match but he is the fourth leading scorer in La Liga this season with 15 goals, although he is keen to add more before the end of the campaign.

"It's a good amount, but I'm not satisfied with what I have now," the Spanish World Cup-winner said.

"My objective is to take it game by game and in each one try to score goals to help the team pick up points. Hopefully I can get to 20 goals, or get as many as I can."

Getafe were also looking like potential European challengers following a fine end to 2010, but now they are in danger of being sucked into the relegation dogfight.

In their 11 league games in 2011, Michel's men have lost six and won just once, and last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Sporting Gijon means they will start tomorrow's match seven points above the drop zone.

Goalkeeper Jordi Codina admitted their objective right now is to stay up.

"Now, all the games that are left are finals because everybody is playing for something," he said.

"Those at the top are playing for the league and Europe and those at the bottom not to go down. Everyone has a different objective they are fighting for. We are playing for survival.

"Once we get it, then we will look to see if we can achieve anything else. That's our objective."