Athletic start with an affected defence

Yesterday, Athletic began preparing for next Saturday’s final at the Metropolitano. After enjoying a two-day rest, Valverde called his team for a morning work session conducted under heavy rain in Lezama. The red and white coach started the week with defeats on the defensive level, although only one of them seems certain for the rivalry against Simeone’s men.

De Marcos, who this time was not seen with the rest of his teammates, will miss this appointment because on Friday he received his fifth yellow card against Granada in San Mamés. The veteran red-and-white footballer, whose continuation at a professional level remains unknown two months after his contract as a lion, must serve the punishment this Saturday. His natural replacement, at least so far this campaign, would be Lekue, but the Bilbao native often serves as left back when Yuri is causing the drool.

The latter, who missed the league clash against the Nasrid team after receiving a strong tackle from Méndez that caused immediate swelling in his right ankle, ran alone yesterday in one of the Lezama fields. We’ll have to wait to see how it evolves between now and Saturday, although in principle it hasn’t been ruled out. Imanol, the other left back in Athletic’s first team, was left out of the final squad on the last day of the League.

Another loss and a boost

Aitor Paredes also worked yesterday in the red and white facilities outside the squad. The Bilbao center back also did not complete the match against Granada, as he had to be replaced at rest due to muscle discomfort. Yeray took his place in the middle of the defense next to Vivian. We will have to see how Arrigorriga evolves in the coming days.

Valverde reintroduces Jauregizar, a Bilbao Athletic midfielder who made his debut as a lion this season, into the first team dynamic once the cubs have certified their promotion to the Primera RFEF.