Ernesto Valverde has reminded Athletic Bilbao that they need another win before they’re guaranteed a place in next season’s Champions League.
Athletic beat Sevilla 3-1 at San Mames on Sunday in a game that would have seen the visitors go fourth if they had come out on top.
As it is Athletic are six points clear of Unai Emery’s side with three games to play and should Athletic beat Rayo Vallecano, they would effectively be certain of fourth as the best Sevilla could do would be to draw level on points. Athletic’s superiority in the head-to-head record means they couldn’t be overtaken.
“The importance of this victory against Sevilla is huge, but we’re not done,” Marca reports Valverde as saying after the match.
“We’re at the gates and now we have three chances to enter and I hope we can on Friday [against Rayo].
“Three points remain to get into the Champions League. It’s a dream for us all.”
