Deadly dribbler duel

A high-voltage derby is coming up on Saturday in San Mamés. Derbies between Real and Athletic always are, but when there are relevant things at stake, even more so. The two teams are in the European zone, with Athletic six points ahead, meaning a local victory would move them nine points clear of Real. A great loss and hard to recover from. In addition, Real came with heavy casualties. Kubo, Sadiq, Traoré, André Silva and Remiro They will not go there for various reasons. The Japanese are one of the leaders of the team, especially in attack. In red and white it will be Inaki Williams the main absence, their leading scorer and player in the League who shoots the most. Both teams need an offensive pillar, a decisive, unbalanced, aggressive player. And both teams have it.

two daggers

Ander Barrenetxea and Nico Williams They are two right-handed left wingers, dribblers, fast, ballplayers, with a big shot and good centering and association skills. The player from San Sebastian is 22 years old and made his debut at 16, while the Athletic player is 21 and entered the first team at 18. One is a full international in Spain and the other is about to become one. One comes from Zubieta quarry and the other from Lezama. Both are key components in their teams, starters on their own merits and for many times, completely different and referential. They share the year of contract completion (2027), position and virtues. But in this derby they have to take a step (more) forward in the defeat of their teams, especially in the case of Real, who lost with 3 attackers.

Scary for the sides

Barrenetxea took a big step forward. At the end of last season he activated steamroller mode, but in this one he became a main pillar for Real de Imanol carburase. In time to shine Oyarzabal At this point, he had done what was expected of him. He prefers to receive a foot to do damage, while Williams He looks for space without stopping even with the ball in control it’s great. The sides are afraid of them and it is not surprising.

Williams He has scored 14 goals this season, one every 96 minutes. His 10 assists and four goals are important records, mainly based at home, where Athletic scores 2.5 goals per game. Most in the League. Barrenetxea He has four goals and two assists, but this is not due to a lack of good passes, as his ability to find space, penetrate the area and find the best solution is clear. Especially in the Champions League, where he shone in his own light. The purpose of braise In Lisbon it wouldn’t be understood without his ability to create things when he receives the ball, and the fear he inspires in the defender. They weren’t after him, apparently Nico, who left memorable games in the league championship. They are two Champions players, no doubt, but only one of them plays it.

Without debuting in the derbies

If there is anything surprising in the records of the two players, it is that they have not yet ‘deflowered’ in the derbies. They’ve played, they’ve even been starters, but they haven’t scored or assisted. Barrenetxea He played six derbies, including the grand final of La Cartuja, and won 4 and lost only one, and it was in San Mamés. NicoFor his part, he played 4, won only one, he lost.barren‘. This is the right time for both of us. Nico avoid facing Traore and there will be Odriozola either Aritz ahead, while Barrenetxeanothing hut On the other hand, it will gain more popularity. And more finishing options considered Zakharyan putting balls at him from the other side.

They need to show how good they are to win the derby and also the particular duel of lethal dribblers.