Athletic Bilbao face a daunting challenge as they prepare to host La Liga leaders FC Barcelona at the iconic San Mamés Stadium. With the Catalan giants locked in a tight title race with Real Madrid, the match carries significant stakes at both ends of the table. For Athletic defender Aymeric Laporte, the encounter is not just another league fixture but an opportunity for his side to deliver a statement performance.
Treating the clash like a final
According to The Times of India, Laporte acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team known for its possession-heavy style. Barcelona’s ability to dominate the ball means Athletic are likely to spend long periods defending and chasing the game.
“Barcelona is a big team. They play top gameplay and have a good style with possession for long periods,” Laporte said. “We will have to run for sure, but I hope we will be preparing at San Mames to do something big.” The defender stressed that his team is approaching the encounter with maximum intensity, insisting that the players will treat the contest with the urgency of a decisive match.
“It’s always a big challenge against big teams like this,” he said. “We try our best and I try to manage the defensive line and the pitch. We are rotating players almost every game, but we are trying to solve the issues game by game. We will try to prepare this game as a final.”
Athletic aiming for steady progress
Currently placed in the middle of the La Liga standings, Athletic Bilbao are still chasing a potential European qualification spot in what has been an inconsistent season.
Laporte admitted that while a top-six finish remains an ambition, the team’s focus remains on taking the campaign one game at a time. “The ambition is to go game by game. That is the most important thing this season,” he said. “Of course, I would love to say we want to finish in the top six, but right now we are not in the best position to talk about that. First Barcelona, and then we will see if we can win many games and climb the table.”
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Eye on Spain duties and the World Cup
Beyond club commitments, Laporte also has national team ambitions on his mind. Having represented Spain national football team for several years, the defender is focused on maintaining top form ahead of a busy international calendar.
He highlighted the importance of playing regularly in high-level matches in Spain to stay sharp, especially with a major international tournament on the horizon.
“When you play for a team in La Liga and for Spain, of course, it’s in your head,” Laporte said. “That’s why I came back to Spain — to play big games and keep the rhythm at the highest level.” Before the global tournament, Spain is also set to face the Argentina national football team in the Finalissima, which Laporte views as another important step in preparations.
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Laporte’s message reflects the team’s mindset filled with resilience, discipline and belief. While the odds may favour the league leaders, the Basque side will hope that treating the match like a final can inspire a performance capable of upsetting the title contenders at San Mames.
