Marcelino wants intensity in push for Europe
Villarreal is hoping to push further into the top four in LaLiga as it travels to San Mames to face Athletic Club.
Coach Marcelino has called on his side to match Athletic's intensity ahead of the clash, in which Villarreal could take a big step towards securing UEFA Champions League qualification.
Villarreal is embroiled in a congested top-four tussle in LaLiga, and while a title charge is out of the question for Marcelino's side, there is still plenty at stake in the race for a top-four finish.
The Yellow Submarine slumped to a 1-0 loss against Girona in its most recent league outing, which put an end to a three-match unbeaten streak that followed their 4-1 loss to Barcelona at the end of February.
Marcelino conceded that his side did not play up to the mark in Montilivi, urging it to raise its standards ahead of Monday's (AEST) clash at San Mames.
"We are aware that at Montilivi we didn't do enough to win and we want to change that," the Villarreal boss said.
"I expect a very tough match, as Athletic is a very powerful team at home.
"To win, we must work very hard, match their intensity, which is not easy at all, and be effective with the ball in the final third – something we didn't achieve in Girona.
"Finally, we need to be more clinical, which is difficult, but it would bring us closer to victory.
"Overall, we have good numbers away from home, but recently we've lost that solidity as visitors and we need to recover it."
Villarreal is also in the midst of a three-match winless streak on the road.
"Overall, we have good numbers away from home, but recently we've lost that solidity as visitors and we need to recover it," Marcelino added.
"Now we have four home matches and four away matches remaining. We want to compete at a higher level than we did in Girona."
Athletic, meanwhile, suffered a 2-0 loss to Getafe in its most recent outing, leaving it in the bottom half with eight matches left to play.
