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Different aims and needs for Spanish sides in Europa League

Xinhua, December 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Spain's three representatives in the Europa League prepare for the last round of group games with varying aims and needs.

Athletic Club Bilbao travel to face Rapid Vienna with their place in the next round assured after three home wins. However, in order to assure first place in the group and theoretically an easier tie in the knockout stage, they need to get a better result in Austria than group leaders Genk manage against Italian side Sassuolo.

Athletic are without the suspended Raul Garcia, while Aritz Aduriz has been left in Bilbao in order to rest ahead of the weekend La Liga trip to face Betis.

Celta Vigo have a more complicated task as their qualification doesn't lie entirely in their hands.

The Spanish side, who are currently third in their group, play away to Panathinaikos and need to get a better result than second placed Standard Liege, who entertain an Ajax side which is already assured of finishing top of their group.

Celta rested players such as John Guidetti and Fabian Orellana at the weekend, but both should start in Greece.

Villarreal meanwhile need to put behind them a poor month of results with just one win in their last five games, and defeat Steaua Bucharest in the el Madrigal Stadium.

Just two points separate all four sides in Villarreal's group and although a draw could be enough to send the Spaniards through, they would run the risk of Zurich overtaking them if the Swiss side was able to win away to current group leaders Osmanlispor. Endit