Athletic Bilbao Coach Ernesto Valverde is wary of Getafe’s ambition prior to their meeting this weekend.
The Basques travel to El Geta and Valverde and could come up against Pedro Leon, who was finally granted a licence to play.
Valverde touched on the winger’s situation, as well as that of Getafe as a whole and his team after their midweek exertions in the Champions League.
“Leon was an important player to Getafe. From the point of view of tactics, he gives them a lot,” Valverde acknowledged.
“I don’t know if he’s fit. If he’s been included it’s because he’s fine but I doubt he’ll start from the beginning. That he can play is good news for him.
“Getafe are in good form. They have places who are dangerous in spaces and Sarabia is a playmaker who gives their attack some thrust.
“They seem to have ambition. They’re performing better away from home. It’s true they have problems with goals but apart from Real Madrid and Barca, who doesn’t?”
Valverde added that he considers the game against Getafe crucial to his side’s prospects for the rest of the season.
“It’s important to know and show what we want to achieve, if we want to try to look up or look down,” he continued.
“It’s the start of a trend – do we begin to look up or are we stuck in the bottom half? We want to show we’re looking up more than down. It’s crucial, I think.”
