Top-four chasing Athletic Bilbao welcome relegation candidates Las Palmas to San Mames in La Liga on Wednesday night.
There was a late heartbreak for Bilbao away at the Bernabeu at the weekend, but most of their focus will be elsewhere for the remaining few weeks of the season.
Match preview
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After 93 minutes of heroic defensive solidity away to Real Madrid, Ernesto Valverde's men were left crestfallen when their manager's namesake Federico Valverde thundered home an astonishing last-gasp winner on Sunday night.
It looked like it was going to be their night when Vinicius Junior had a goal disallowed 10 minutes from time, as the heavily-rotated Bilbao side looked set to hold on for an unlikely point.
However, the eventual defeat means that Champions League qualification is still not secure, despite the top five in La Liga now being guaranteed entry to Europe's top-tier competition, but Valverde's team selection proves that their attention is all on the Europa League at present.
Athletic took one step closer to playing in a European final at their home stadium by beating Rangers on Thursday night, and all eyes will now be on their semi-final with Manchester United at the start of May.
There is no La Liga gameweek at the weekend with the Copa del Rey final taking place, so that will afford Bilbao more time to prepare for the semi-final, but they do have a Basque derby against Real Sociedad coming up in between the two legs.
That will be important in the race for the top five, where sixth-place Real Betis are chasing down those above them, so Bilbao will hope to maintain their excellent home form this midweek, having won over two points-per-game at San Mames this season.
Valverde's side also have a tricky finish to the campaign though, facing La Real, as well as in-form Valencia and title-favourites Barcelona.
Therefore, the home faithful will hope to see their side claim another victory over Las Palmas, because the 3-2 win away from home in the reverse means they have come out on top in all three meetings since their upcoming opponents were promoted ahead of last season.
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Las Palmas have only won once in Bilbao since 1980, losing 10 of their 14 meetings in that time, but they enter the fixture riding the crest of a wave after two crucial results over the past week and a half.
The great escape is potentially on for Diego Martinez's side, who looked certain to go down following a run of 13 games without a win to start 2025.
A potentially pivotal moment in the relegation fight went their way on Saturday night, when Javier Munoz scored a 95th-minute winner to beat Atletico Madrid on the Canaries.
That came after a 3-1 victory over Getafe away from home the week before, capitalising on a first-half red card to come from behind and win.
Las Palmas enter this fixture outside the bottom three, one point above Alaves, but with eight still realistically in the scrap at the bottom, it is impossible to call.
Team News
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Bilbao star man Nico Williams is set to be rested again ahead of the Europa League semi-finals after he was left out of the squad to face Real Madrid with a minor thigh problem.
Apart from that, Valverde has a fully-fit squad to choose from, and many changes could be in store again, after he made 10 alterations to his XI at the weekend, with Alex Berenguer the only survivor from the Rangers win.
Oihan Sancet could be one of the players to return, and with 17 goals this season, he has amassed the third-highest tally of goals by a La Liga midfielder in one season over the last decade, being only beaten by Jude Bellingham and Pablo Sarabia.
Fabio Silva is also in excellent form for the visitors, becoming just the third Las Palmas player to reach double figures for league goals in the 21st century, doing so in just 24 matches.
On the injury front, goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen remains out, so Croatian stopper Dinko Horkas is expected to continue deputising in the Dutchman's absence.
Kirian Rodriguez is currently sidelined with illness, while Benito Ramirez and Andy Pelmard are closing in on returns, but this game could come too soon for them.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Unai Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Lekue; De Galarreta, Jauregizar; Djalo, Sancet, Unai Gomez; I. Williams
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Horkas; Viti, Suarez, McKenna, Marmol; Munoz, Essugo, Bajcetic, Moleiro; McBurnie, Silva
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Las Palmas
While Valverde is evidently prioritising the Europa League, they will still be clear favourites here, and with good reason, given their excellent form at home.
Las Palmas' final five matches after this encounter are all against teams placed 10th or lower, so defeat here should not be too damaging, as those games will define their season instead.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
