The Basque side make the trip to Glasgow for the first leg of the last eight clash on Thursday
Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde is hopeful that he will have top scorer Oihan Sancet available for Thursday’s Europa League quarter final first leg against Rangers at Ibrox.
The Spain international has bagged 14 goals in all competitions so far this season and made his return from injury as a second half substitute in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Villareal that solidified Bilbao’s fourth place spot in La Liga.
The Basque side moved one step closer to a top four finish in La Liga by holding fellow Champions League hopefuls Villareal to a goalless draw away from home, keeping the six point lead over their rivals intact.
The game’s biggest talking point came seven minutes from time when the hosts were reduced to 10 men.
Midfielder Pape Gueye’s challenge on Bilbao subsitute Maroan Sannadi initially went unpunished, but following a VAR review, the Villareal star was then giving his marching orders for the reckless tackle.
Sannadi fortunately came away unscathed, but earlier in the match Bilbao had to replace star duo Yuri Berchiche and Aitor Paredes both limping off.
Key defender Yeray Alvarez has already been ruled out of Thursday’s clash with Rangers and former Barcelona head coach Valverde is hopeful he can unleash the returning Sancet from the start in Glasgow.
Speaking after the draw with Villareal, he said: “We’ll see if he plays in Glasgow or not.
“He has to get into it little by little. If not in Scotland, it will be against Rayo, but he should get into it now.
“It’s a small problem in the calf (for Berchiche), let’s see if it’s not enough.
“Nico Williams is fine, but you look at things. Some people rest more during certain periods, like the international break, but he didn’t, and we have to take that into account with so many games. Aitor Paredes, we think it’s just an overload and a cramp.
“We hope Ruiz de Galarreta and Yeray can come to Glasgow, but we don’t know yet. I’ve given them tomorrow off because I have a trip in between; the important thing now is to recover above all else.”
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