Atletico Madrid battles Athletic Bilbao for fourth place in LaLiga
With Real Madrid cruising to the Spanish league title, the focus shifts to the battle for fourth place and the nal Champions League berth.
Atletico Madrid hosts Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in a game that could go a long way to deciding which goes to Europe’s elite competition next season.
Atletico holds fourth place, but Diego Simeone’s side has only a three-point advantage over Athletic in fth with six games remaining.
“Our big goal is to nish in the top four in La Liga,” Atletico defender Stefan Savic said this week. “We have an important game against a rival for the fourth Champions League berth. We know how important the match is and I am sure we will play a great
Athletic’s Valverde.
Atletico coach Simeone will aim to do one over
game and take points at home.”
Athletic has not played in the Champions League since the 2014-15 season, while Atletico is a regular participant.
Athletic, a team that elds players only from or near Spain’s northern Basque Country region, is enjoying its best campaign in years. It ended a four-decade wait for a major title the three when it won the Copa del Rey this month.
“Saturday’s game at Atletico Madrid is a nal, for us,” Athletic midelder Inigo Galarreta said. “This team wants to end the season well and we have an exciting challenge ahead.”
Girona, in third, is seven points clear of Atletico before it plays at Las Palmas also on Saturday.
Madrid opened a commanding