Marcelino: “It’s an attractive and very important game against a direct rival”

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Villarreal CF

·26 de septiembre de 2025

Marcelino: “It’s an attractive and very important game against a direct rival”

Villarreal head coach expects a tight battle against a super competitive and solid Athletic side (Saturday, 9pm CEST)

Villarreal CF manager Marcelino García Toral spoke to the media on Friday to preview the clash with Athletic Club, corresponding to Matchday 7 of the 2025/26 LALIGA EA Sports season, which will be played this Saturday at 9pm CEST at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

At the start of his press conference, the Asturian coach underlined the importance of the fixture against the Basque side: “The match against Athletic is very important for us. We’re playing against a direct rival for the European spots. The run we’re on is positive, with two straight wins. Now we face this match with optimism, hoping we can close the week with another victory.”

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Marcelino also warned of the challenge ahead, highlighting the virtues of an Athletic Club he described as ‘highly competitive’: “They’re a very tough team to score against because they’re defensively solid and have top-level attacking weapons. We’ll need to defend well, control their counterattacks, and be smart in possession. It’s going to be a very even game, and the key will be being more clinical than them.”

The Villarreal boss believes the match has all the ingredients to be entertaining and give the fans something to enjoy: “It’ll be a great game, with a good kick-off time. We want the fans to fill the stadium and help us enjoy another win at home.”

Asked about squad rotation in the face of a busy schedule, Marcelino praised the competitiveness across his squad: “We’re mixing players in, and the performances have been excellent. We want to maintain competitiveness in every position. It’s important to prioritise quality minutes over quantity, because that will be key for the team to keep competing. This upcoming October will be decisive in showing our real level. Facing Athletic will be a challenge very similar to the Atlético game. Hopefully, this time we’ll have a better response.”