As Barcelona played yesterday’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Athletic returned to training in Lezama without fully explaining what could have happened last Sunday at the Camp Nou. Valverde’s team lost for the first time this season away to San Mamés and have not had a chance to win a game for the first time so far this season, including home games that ended in defeat against Espanyol and Atlético de Madrid.
The Gasteiz coach chose to make three changes with respect to what has so far been the rojiblanco starting eleven for the minutes played throughout the Liga. It is enough to check the statistics of the Bilbao squad to verify that the typical line-up of the Gasteiz coach until now is the one formed by Unai Simón; Yeray, Iñigo Martínez, Lekue; Vesga, Sancet; Nico Williams, Muniain, Berenguer; and Inaki Williams. At Camp Nou, three of them were substitutes and one didn’t even set foot on the pitch.
Valverde considered it appropriate to have Yuri, Ander Herrera and Zarraga start this time. For the left-back, it was his fourth game of the season and third as a starter, something that hasn’t happened to him since the second day of the championship. The Bilbao midfielder, meanwhile, had just made his debut in the starting lineup just five days ago: at the Coliseum against Getafe. For Zarraga, however, this is his first start after totaling 130 minutes of participation in his previous seven commitments.
Iñigo Martínez, who has so far accumulated a total of 630 minutes in this Liga as a result of his seven consecutive starts after missing the first four days due to his knee problems, appears in the eleventh position of first eleven lions most used by coaches rojiblanco until now. Vivian, with 544 minutes, comes out next. The thirteenth, Dani García, accumulated 365.
Yuri (305 minutes), Raúl García equaled Zarraga (200) and Ander Herrera (172) appeared later in a relationship where only Guruzeta (102) exceeded one hundred minutes. Villalibre (79), Vencedor (56), Morcillo (32), Paredes (21), Adu Ares (4) and Ander Capa (1) complete the list of players used by Valverde so far. Balenziaga, Agirrezabala and Iru continue without release.
forced change
After Athletic’s poor performance at Barcelona it seems clear that Valverde will have to rethink his line-up for Sunday’s match against Villarreal. Ander Herrera, who at the Camp Nou requested a change due to a muscle problem, will struggle to arrive in time for the new league event. A hole, therefore, remains free in the middle of the field.
Dani García, also injured, will also miss the game; Therefore, the Gasteiz coach has only four midfielders for three positions: Vesga, Muniain, Sancet and Vencedor. Raúl García could be another option to play behind the center forward.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
