Athletic’s first team returned to training yesterday after enjoying a few days of Christmas holidays. In this way, Valverde began to prepare for the double commitment that the lions will face next week when they return to the competition. Sevilla face the lions on Thursday, January 4 at Sánchez Pizjuán and three days later they will play for a place in the round of 32 of the Cup against Eibar in Ipurua.
Iñaki Williams, who this Sunday has to focus on the Ghana team to face the African Cup, trained outside the group. Everything indicates, in the absence of the corresponding official confirmation, that the red and white striker will have to leave for Johannesburg (South Africa) without participating in the league clash against the Seville team. An important loss, no doubt, for the Gasteiztarran coach.
The absence of the eldest Williams in the group was not the only one at the forward level in this preparatory session held yesterday in Lezama. Gorka Guruzeta also did not come out to train with the rest of his teammates. De Marcos, Dani García and Ruiz de Galarreta, for their part, also trained outside the group.
Valverde, as seen yesterday, continues to rely on the help of puppies Hugo Rincón and Jauregizar to keep them in the dynamic of the first team. The right-back has been on the first team bench several times, but has yet to make his debut as a Lion in an official competitive match. The Bermeo midfielder, however, had his first minutes at Athletic both in league competition and in the cup tournament. In San Mamés, without going any further, he participated in the final stage of the last match against UD Las Palmas.
Doubts facing Seville
While waiting to see how the rest of this week goes in Lezama and the first days of next, the doubts surrounding Athletic’s possible starting eleven against Sevilla extend to all lines of the field except the goal, where it remains Unai Simón was untouchable. In the back, it is still being known what is the physical condition of De Marcos and if Yeray is ready to return to the competition after the injury sustained to his right adductor.
With the double pivot, Vesga also has greater continuity in terms of pace and training while Ruiz de Galarreta and Dani García continue their recovery pace. In the triple midfielder, the doubt arose around the replacement of Iñaki Williams on one of the wings and above we have to pay attention to the status of Guruzeta, who was not in training yesterday.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
