Sporting Gijon vs Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Gijon
Athletic Bilbao
vs
Saturday 13th March 2010
Venue: El Molinon
Kick-off: 19:00
Score: 0 - 0
Caparros targets Champions League
Athletic Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros believes his team are very much in the hunt for a Champions League place and has urged them to maintain that challenge at Sporting Gijon.
Los Leones have been in fine form this season and Caparros has been rewarded for his good work with a new contract.
Caparros took over a side that had been struggling against relegation for several years and the improvement has been noticeable.
Athletic have lost just one of their past five league games and are currently seventh in the Primera Division standings, just three adrift of fourth-placed Sevilla.
"As of today we have our options," said Caparros. "But we have to do everything well and that means that we have to have a good game and get a good result.
"With the mathematical statistics being what they are today no-one can ignore us.
"At the end of the season or after Saturday the matches will tell us if our chances are the same or if we have to aim for other sorts of objectives, but today nobody can take away the good times."
Athletic can close the gap on fourth spot to just a point if results go their way and they could even find themselves in the Champions League places temporarily with Sevilla hosting Deportivo La Coruna later that evening.
However, Caparros insists he is just focusing on their own match at Sporting.
"What's nice is that the fans, the journalists and the players are doing these sums," he added.
"But you have to worry about yourself and know that our task is going to be a very difficult, at a nice stadium, with fans that inspire you."
Oscar de Marcos, Fran Yeste, Joseba Etxeberria and Koikili Lertxundi remain sidelined along with long-term absentees Aitor Ocio, Ion Velez and Iban Zubiaurre.
However, Ander Iturraspe returns and Gaizka Toquero, who scored both goals in last week's victory over Real Valladolid, has been included in the squad despite only returning to training yesterday.
Sporting will be looking to get back to winning ways after a hefty 3-0 defeat to Real Mallorca last time out.
They now face another tricky test against Athletic who are, like Mallorca, fighting for a Champions League place.
Sporting's form has been rocky of late, but the club have enjoyed a hugely positive season overall and are well-placed in the table with 13 games remaining.
The Asturians are currently 11 points clear of the drop zone and remain strong at home, but coach Manuel Preciado insists they cannot afford to relax yet and, having won at the San Mames earlier this season, is looking to pull off the double against Athletic tomorrow.
"It will be a magnificent game with two fine teams, who will offer up a very hard-fought battle," he said. "They want to return to Europe next season, but we want to return to the San Mames by staying in the Primera Division.
"Those who think everything is done are mistaken. That's why the three points tomorrow aren't drastic, but very important for us."
Diego Castro, who was missing at Mallorca last week through suspension, returns for the game against Athletic, but Gregory Arnolin serves a one-match ban and is likely to be replaced by Ivan Hernandez.
Alberto Lora is sidelined as is fellow midfielder Cristian Portilla but Carmelo is back.
