RCD Espanyol - Athletic Club

Athletic Club have made life difficult for themselves with a painful 2-0 defeat to RCD Espanyol, a loss which does nothing to end their suffering.

With European qualification now almost out of reach, Ernesto Valverde’s side must avoid further trouble by not slipping up against RC Celta on Sunday.

We have four days to regroup and play a match for survival at San Mames, one where we must pick up points. A horrible twist that comes on the penultimate matchday and Valverde's farewell game at The Cathedral. But that’s football.

Wednesday's clash in Barcelona was an evenly matched encounter in the first half, with Unai Simón keeping the team in the game with a couple of saves, including a fantastic one to deny Carlos Romero. At the other end, Athletic hit the woodwork twice, once via Aymerica Laporte and again through Unai Gómez on the stroke of half-time.

RCD Espanyol came out with renewed vigour after the break and struck when the match seemed most finely balanced, with Pere Milla getting to a cross at the near post. As the Lions went all out for an equaliser, Kike García made it 2-0 in stoppage time, a blow from which the Lions could not recover.