Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde has insisted that "sometimes losing a game can be a good thing" following their defeat to Espanyol in La Liga at the weekend.

Espanyol's 2-1 success on Sunday was the first time that Bilbao have been beaten in the league on their own patch this season.

"Sometimes losing a game can be a good thing, to back up the fact that it's difficult being where we are," he told reporters at a press conference.

"When you have a winning dynamic at home, it can make it seem like all who come think they're going to get nowhere, but that's not always the case."

Bilbao remain in fourth spot in the table.