Valverde: "The result of this match has an added dimension"

Ernesto Valverde recognised Athletic Club's away clash at Real Betis  on Sunday (16:15 CET) has an "added dimension" as both sides are fighting for Europe.

With fifth-placed Athletic taking on seventh-placed Betis at the Benito Villamarín, a positive result for either team could have a massive impact on their European ambitions.

"Regardless of other results this weekend, our match pits the fifth-placed team against the seventh-placed team," Valverde said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday morning.

"It's important because we're within a few points of each other. It is an opportunity for us. There is still a lot of season to go, but things are starting to be decided. The result takes on an added dimension."

"The match is motivating enough to be at 100 per cent."

With the exception of the Copa victory at the Metropolitano, Athletic Club have picked up two draws and a defeat in their most recent LaLiga away days.

However, Valverde is confident that the team can reverse the trend and get a big win on the road against a serious opponent.

He said: "We haven't scored in our last three LaLiga away matches. They were preceded by important clashes, but it's true that we needed to improve. We also have to give credit to the opponents who put us under pressure.

"Obviously, we want to change that, we want to win. And to do that, we have to create clear chances. We're going to look at the games that have gone well for us and we're convinced that we can achieve the same level.

"Betis will want to get back to their best, they have a lot of quality and any of their players can settle a match. We'll have to be up to the task."

The Zurigorri have a massive week ahead in which they're playing three huge fixtures, including this one. The gaffer said he will be going "one step at a time".

He continued: "It's an intense and important week in terms of the future of the competition. But I don't want to think about the match after of this one.

"There are many incentives and the first one is Real Betis. We're going to compete against direct rivals in LaLiga and then we have the Copa semi-final. The best thing is to focus on the game in front of us."