Hola! and thank you for making the trip to Bilbao once again for another Friday fiesta of football with the Basque Boys. Their title defence is going well, but injuries are beginning to mount up. Do they have the strength-in-depth to last the distance?…

We start with transfer news, as Histilloles returns to his homeland. Cheers, Francko!

The match action starts in the cup, as we host Barca. It’s a shocking display, and of course De La Peña scores. 3-2 would’ve been ok, but the red card and own goal could prove fatal.

We’re back in league action two days later at Logrones. They have two sent off in fifteen minutes, and we put our two-man advantage to good use. Guerrero even misses a penalty!

Poor old Babs was beginning to make his mark at Real Madrid B as well, poor kid…

We’ve been quiet on the transfer front lately, so I make a couple of signings. I finally land Didi Deschamps for £750k. He’s in his twilight years, but his experience will be invaluable.

And at the opposite end of the age spectrum is Spanish wonder kid, Tiko. He cost £1.2m from Sevilla, and isn’t quick, but the rest of his stats aren’t too shabby…

We’re en route to another piss-boiling result against Merida, but Arenaza pops up with a late winner, and I then learn that Real and Barca both drew, putting us top at halfway!

But as always, for every positive, there’s a negative, or in this case, two. For f*ck sake!

Our third signing of the window is the regen of Ander Garitano, who cares if he can’t pass, head or tackle?…

Deschamps and Tiko both start the second leg with Barca. Tejero comes on as sub for his debut, but despite a valiant effort, our wait for a second Copa Del Rey goes on…

At this rate, the board will be spending money on a new treatment room next season, rather than new seats…

The second half of the season begins at home to Deportivo, who are in the drop zone. After a great start, we’re made to wait for our second goal after an umpteenth super keeper display.

Injury number five of the week, and that takes the combined total of lay-offs to over a year…

With Tabuenka still stalling over a new deal, I bring in two defensive regens. The first is that of Jose Pikabea, once of Sociedad, on a free.

And the second is the reincarnation of former Rayo Vallecano man, Jose Luis Ribera. He costs £750k from Logrones, and takes the squad’s regen count to ten.

We canter to victory down at the donkey stable. The extra man helps after Óscar Vales’ red card, and we keep our sixth consecutive league clean sheet – solid.

I’ve had enough of Tabuenka’s heel-dragging, and decide to cash in rather than lose him for free. He wanted £45k a week, not at 32 years old I’m afraid – go and warm Louis’ bench…

It’s a tight battle with Atletico, and yet another blinding display from Landreau in their goal, but a draw isn’t bad, and their goal was the first we’ve conceded in seven games.

It’s a routine win at Valladolid, but a disaster injuries-wise. Javi Rey replaces Alkorta for his debut, and Deschamps lasts one minute after coming on – just what the doctor didn’t order…

A few days later, Perez joins the crocked list…

On top of all the injuries, Alkorta and Arenaza are now suspended for two matches, but we scrape together a side to win at Betis.

Laslandes is now suspended too, but Guerrero is back from injury, and he and my makeshift strike pairing of Idiakez and Etxebe see off Hercules. Victory music, Maestri, please!

Valencia have two ex basque boys in their side, Raúl Otxoa and Jose Mari. The latter hasn’t played for two years, yet still finds the net, but an Etxebe double gives us the win.

The champions league is back, and we face Bayern in the quarters. After a goalless first half, Arenaza gets a potentially priceless away goal to take into the second leg, but it should have been more…

I expect nothing less than a win at home to Las Palmas, but a defensive error gifts them a goal. With Luis Perez now 32, I’m pleased to see his intended successor, Idiakez, playing well.

Seriously, just f*ck off now!

It’s another fruitless trip to the Nou Camp after the usual wave after wave of Barca attacks. I don’t know why them and the match engine don’t just get a room…

Now for the second leg with Bayern. Arenaza’s injury isn’t a good start, but Laslandes puts us ahead. I’m sh*tting myself when they score late, but Laslandes strikes again to return my heart rate to normal.

Salernitana stun Man Utd to book a semi final date with Juventus, and we get Real Madrid…

Arenaza’s injury could have been worse, I’m praying he’ll be fit for that first leg with Real Madrid…

So here’s how things stand with ten games remaining. We still have to play Real Madrid, but all of our other games are very winnable, and we’re still fighting for this title. If I’m honest though, the champions league is at the top of my agenda.

That’s it for another week folks! I’ll see you at the same time and same place next week for the final part of the season, where we’ll play that champions league semi final, and find out if we can retain our league title. Adios!