Espanyol 1 - 0 Athletic Bilbao

Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao: Preview

Updated: May 16, 2009, 1:22 PM UK

Espanyol will hope to secure Primera Division survival with a win over beaten Copa del Rey finalists Athletic Bilbao at Montjuic.

The Barcelona-based side looked to have done enough to stay up last weekend, when they went 2-0 up at Atletico Madrid.

But the Catalans capitulated in the second half and were unable to seal a fifth straight win which would have taken them over the 40-point mark with three games left.

As things stand, Mauricio Pochettino's side sit just four points above the drop zone ahead of tomorrow's clash with Athletic.

Games against Almeria (away) and Malaga (home) follow for Espanyol, but full-back David Garcia hopes his side can secure survival with a win.

"Let's hope we're mathematically safe by the time this weekend's games are over,'' he said.

"First we need to beat Athletic and then hope our rivals don't win.''

A combination of results could see Espanyol secure their top-flight status and Garcia believes that would represent a fantastic achievement after the team spent five weeks at the bottom of the table in March and April.

"We have done really well to get to where we are now and it will be a great achievement if we manage to secure survival on Sunday, but we're not there yet and we have to make sure we go out and win the game,'' he said.

Athletic went down 4-1 to Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night and Garcia hopes Espanyol can take advantage of their rivals' fatigue.

"We have a good opportunity because we're at home and they are likely to be tired - we have to take advantage,'' he said.

Espanyol move to a new stadium next season and this game will be their second to last fixture at Montjuic, where they finish the season against Malaga in two weeks' time.

Captain Raul Tamudo and defender Nico Pareja both miss out through injury, but should be back for the season's finale. Full-back Steve Finnan also remains sidelined.

Athletic, meanwhile, look safe from relegation after beating Real Betis 1-0 last weekend.

That victory was achieved with a team of reserve players and saw Athletic rack up 41 points.

The Basques are therefore seven points clear of the drop zone with just three games left.

Coach Joaquin Caparros reserved his first-team players for Wednesday's cup final, but his team were outclassed by a breathtaking Barcelona side and lost 4-1.

Nevertheless, thousands of Athletic fans turned out in force to pay tribute to their team at an official celebration in Bilbao on Friday.

The players were reportedly unhappy at the timing of that event, just two days before the match against Espanyol.

"It would have been much more appropriate had we won, and it's not ideal because we have a league game on Sunday and the league is not finished yet,'' goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz said.

And following the cup disappointment, the former Espanyol keeper wants his team to finish as high as possible in the league.

"We have to concentrate on this game and leave the name of our club in the highest place possible,'' he said.

Igor Gabilondo misses out through injury, but Caparros should have the rest of his squad available.

The Athletic coach is set to make changes following his players' exertions in Wednesday's cup final, though.