Preview:Athletic Bilbao vs. BATE Borisov

Neither Athletic Bilbao nor BATE Borisov stand any chance of reaching the Champions League knockout stages ahead of their meeting on the sixth and final group matchday, but the match does bear plenty of importance as it will decide who finishes third and goes through to the Europa League.

Athletic hold the advantage going into the match with a one-point lead and will secure third spot if they avoid defeat to the Belarusian visitors.

The Spanish side should enter the match on a high after they produced a shock by winning at Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday five for their first victory of this year's group stage.

They have, however, failed to win their last two games in all competitions, falling to a 1-0 defeat at home to bottom club Cordoba in the league on Saturday.

Carlos Gurpegi is suspended for this match, while Ander Iturraspe and Markel Susaeta are one booking away from a European suspension.

The reverse fixture saw BATE claim their only points of the group stage as they recorded a 2-1 victory.

In the other matches against Porto and Shakhtar they have lost 6-0, 7-0, 5-0 and 3-0 and if they concede against Bilbao they will set a new Champions League record for goals let in during the group stage.

On a more positive note, Aleksandr Yermakovich's side have recently wrapped up the Belarusian title for the ninth year in a row and will be well-rested having not played since November 30.

Bilbao:

Form in Champions League: WDLLLW Form in all competitions: DWWWDL

Possible starting lineup: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Etxeita, Viguera, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe, Mikel Rico; Susaeta, San Jose, Muniain

BATE:

Form in Champions League: WLWLLL Form in all competitions: WLWWLD

Possible starting lineup: Chernik; Gayduchik, Mladenovic, Tubic, Yablonski, Karnitski, A. Volodko, Olekhnovich, Khagash, Rodionov, Gordeychuk

Sports Mole says: 2-1