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La Liga

Atletico Madrid could secure a Champions League spot if results go their way on the last weekend of the season.

Atleti striker Sergio Aguero acknowledges it will not be easy for his side at Athletic Bilbao.

With a two-point advantage over nearest challengers Villarreal and Valencia, who meet each other at El Madrigal tomorrow, Atletico could clinch a Champions League spot with a victory at San Mames.

And even if one of either Villarreal or Valencia manage to come out on top in their clash, Abel Resino`s side would still be firm favourites to finish in the top four if they can beat Athletic as their final match is at home to mid-table Almeria.

Aguero is taking nothing for granted ahead of their trip to Athletic though, saying: "This year our goal was the Champions League and we're on the way to reaching it. We have two steps left, but we know that this Saturday's match is going to be very difficult and we have to play it seriously if we want to win.

"Athletic are a good team, they really battle and we'll have to play very well to win. The team has to stay calm and do things the way we know how.

"The main thing is for us to earn the three points. If Villarreal and Valencia draw then all the better, but we have to get the three points."

Historically, Athletic have proved a difficult team to get the better of at `La Catedral`, but in recent years Atletico have enjoyed the upper hand against the Basque side in their own back yard.

Three years ago Athletic needed a 95th-minute equaliser from Pablo Orbaiz to salvage a 1-1 draw, then the following season they lost 4-1 at home to the Rojiblancos before suffering a 2-0 defeat last term.

The two most recent encounters have gone Athletic`s way though, with back-to-back victories at the Vicente Calderon during the last year, and the Copa del Rey finalists will be desperate to end their home campaign on a high note tomorrow, especially as they are already safe from the drop.

"It's our last home game and we want to improve on last season's finish," said Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros, whose side are currently occupying the same 11th-placed position they ended the last campaign in.

"We know that we will face a team that is super-motivated, with a very clear objective, which is to get into the Champions League and where Abel (Resino) is doing a great job, but we are playing at San Mames and we want to make our fans happy."

Caparros, whose side will be playing in the Europa League next season after finishing runners-up to Champions League-bound Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, is without Aitor Ocio, Andoni Iraola and Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora for the match.

Atletico coach Resino, meanwhile, has made a few changes to the squad that impressively saw off Valencia 1-0 last weekend.

Back come defenders Luis Perea and John Heitinga following suspension, while young midfielder Ruben Perez has been drafted in from Atletico's B team.

The players missing are Ignacio Camacho, who is with the Spain Under-19 squad, injured duo Antonio Lopez and Ever Banega, and the omitted Angel Bernabe.