Previews
DOM 12.04.2015
RCD Espanyol play at home to Athletic Club for matchday 31 of the Liga BBVA in a game that would see the Catalans overtake the Basque side on points should they win. The Lions currently lie eighth in the table with 40 points, two above Espanyol.
Team news
Salva Sevilla and Juan Rafael Fuentes make their way back into Sergio González's plans having served their suspensions earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the Bilbao outfit will be without Iker Muniain, who misses the rest of the season after tearing a cruciate ligament. Also out for Ernesto Valverde is Aritz Aduriz, serving a ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Views from the dugouts
Espanyol midfielder Víctor Sánchez spoke in clear terms about the upcoming match and his team’s aspirations: "Sunday's game against Athletic is massively important, it could push us towards safety and allow us to finish in a respectable position".
Elsewhere, Ernesto Valverde stressed that the various options at his disposal to tackle the absence of Aritz Aduriz up front. "They will be looking to beat us so they can overtake us in the table and we will be aiming to extend our lead over them. We want to look forward. Our goal is to win there", he stated.
© LALIGA - 2015