* Villarreal sit in fourth place, the last qualifying spot for the Champions League. The top two places appear out of reach as they trail second placed Real Madrid by 19 points, but they could draw level on points with third placed Valencia depending on results this weekend. With eight points separating them from fifth place, they will definitely stay in the Champions League places this weekend.
* The Yellow Submarine have won just one of their last five games in La Liga, drawn three and lost one.
* They did however progress into the quarter-finals of the Europa League in midweek, defeating a tough Bayer Leverkusen side.
* Giuseppe Rossi has scored the only goal in each of Villarreal's last three league games.
* El Amarillo have won eight of their last nine league clashes with Athletic.
* Athletic Bilbao currently occupy sixth place, a position that would see them qualify for the Europa League. Depending on results this weekend, they could climb to fifth or drop two places to eighth.
* Athletic have also won just one of their last five league games, although they have lost three and drawn one, picking up just four points of a possible 15.
* Los Leones have lost every home game in which they have conceded more than one goal this season.
LAST MEETING
November 7th, 2010: Villarreal 4-1 Athletic
Athletic took the lead early on through Fernando Llorente, but Nilmar, Cazorla, Rossi and Montero took the game by its horns and each found the net to grab a big win for Villarreal.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Athletic: Iraizoz; San Jose, Amorebieta, Koikili, Iraola; Gabilondo, Javi Martinez, Orbaiz, Lopez; Llorente, Susaeta
Villarreal: D. Lopez; Capdevila, Musacchio, Gonzalo, A. Lopez; Cazorla, Marchena, Valero, Cani; Rossi, Nilmar
Prediction
Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Villarreal
