Previews
SUN 21.12.2014
Athletic Club and Atlético Madrid lock horns at the San Mamés in the final game of 2014 in the Liga BBVA. The Basque side will try to end the year with a victory having only claimed one point in their last two games. The visitors, meanwhile, will want to make amends for their 0-1 defeat in the last round against Villarreal with a victory that will help them climb the table.
Team news
The home side will be without the injured Andoni Iraola, as well as suspended Aymeric Laporte and Ander Iturraspe. The Madrid club also have significant absentees in Koke and Mandžukić, due to an accumulation of cards. Cristian Ansaldi and Alessio Cerci are also out of the line-up through injury.
Views from the dugout
Manager Ernesto Valverde is confident of his team's chances: "We're taking into account their strategy; we're a strong team in that area as well. We want to end the year on a high note, both in the result and how we play".
His counterpart Diego Simeone said that his team is going into the game "with great attitude, on a great stage and against great opposition. It's an important match, a nice one to watch, and hopefully it will go well for us".
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