Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde concedes they were outplayed for their 5-1 defeat at Villarreal.

The result was a heavy blow to Athletic's European hopes.

"We tried to put pressure on them up top but there was a big difference in their punching power," Valverde said in his post-match press conference.

"They punished us hard. We had very clear chances to get into the game but we weren't effective. At 2-1 we thought we could come back but, at the first opportunity, they punished us again. Then with a two-goal deficit, they grew. The game was theirs."

He also said: "There are four games left and we have to go all out. Now this game is over, we'll be down for a while, but there's nothing left to do but to move on and prepare as well as possible for the next game.

"We're still in the fight and if we win on Sunday [against Celta] it will help us be more composed as we head into the final stretch."