Ernesto Valverde wants Athletic Bilbao Europa League push

Ernesto Valverde has challenged his Athletic Bilbao side to try to go "as far as possible" in the Europa League after qualifying with a win over BATE Borisov.

The La Liga side dominated against the Belarusian champions, but were made to wait until the second half for a breakthrough before completing a 2-0 victory.

Valverde has suggested that Athletic were looking to win the game in a bid to earn a seeded place for Friday's draw for the last 32 as well as distract from last weekend's defeat against Cordoba.

He is quoted by UEFA.comas saying: "Our goal today was to win for many reasons, to be seeded, to win in San Mames, to take away the bad taste of another day in the [Spanish] league.

"We are in the [last 32] stage of the Europa League and we want to get as far as possible."

Athletic return to domestic action with a Basque derby away to Real Sociedad on Sunday.