MADRID, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Sociedad are both away from home in the fourth round of games in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Athletic, whose San Mames Stadium hosts this season's final, travels to play Bulgarian league leaders, Ludogorets, who are currently second from bottom in the qualifying group.
Athletic are eighth in the table with two wins and a draw and another win would be a big step towards booking direct qualification into the knockout stages without the need of an extra qualifying round.
The team coached by Ernesto Valverde drew 1-1 at home to Betis on Sunday in a game where they hit the woodwork three times and created enough chances to have won with ease and are still without midfielder Mikel Jauregizar and striker Gorka Guruzeta for the trip, although Oihan Sancet has shaken off an ankle injury and travels with the squad.
Real Sociedad got their first win of the tournament two weeks ago against Maccabi Tel-Aviv and now travel to play Czech side, Viktoria Plzen, with both sides needing three points to keep their top-eight hopes alive.
Real Sociedad got a morale-boosting away win in Girona last weekend, but still has a long injury list including players such as Ander Barrenetxea, Pablo Marin, and Benat Turrientes, with coach Imanol Alguacil likely to rotate his starting 11.
Last week's floods in Valencia meant 'La Real's' Copa del Rey match away to fifth-tier Jove Espanol had to be postponed and the club's European commitments mean there are currently no dates in the fixture calendar to fit the game in before the second round is scheduled to be played. ■
