Athletic will face the final stage of 2024 full of morale due to the good results achieved so far this season and excited about the qualifying situation at both League and Europa League levels. Valverde seems to have a very clear idea on this matter. The red and white coach, knowing what awaits his team both at the beginning and in the rest of the new year, measures his efforts. From game to game, at least, he made at least four changes to his respective starting eleven.
Last Sunday, for example, he fielded in Mendizorrotza a lineup without four of the lions he has used the most in Liga, including the derby against Alavés. Eleven, surprisingly, with only three variations from what would be a typical team so far in the Europa League. All this, of course, under the parameter of the minutes of the competition accumulated to date.
The typical Liga team based on time played would consist of Agirrezabala (1207 minutes); De Marcos (1000), Vivian (1224), Paredes (935), Yuri (1045); Jauregizar (899), Sancet (970); Iñaki Williams (1382), Berenguer (994), Nico Williams (1152); and Guruzeta (891). Comparing this type of eleven based on accumulated time in the regularity tournament, the Athletic formed in Mendizorrotza showed four variations.
Unai Simón, in this way, came to take Agirrezabala’s place in the goal; Adama played for Yuri at left back; Galarreta for Sancet in the double pivot (Navarrese was delayed in that position due to the presence of Berenguer as starter at eleven minutes and the absence of another definitive pivot); and Unai Gómez for Guruzeta. With the exception of the goalkeeper, the three lions included in the typical eleven for the minutes played in the League joined the game against Alavés on the fly.
The eleven types in Europe
The typical Athletic lineup in the Europa League, following the criterion of accumulated minutes, differs in three positions compared to the League. This continental eleven consists, for now at least, of Agirrezabala (450 minutes); Gorosabel (361), Vivian (485), Prados (540), Yuri (450); Galarreta (465), Prados (315); Iñaki Williams (501), Berenguer (276), Nico Williams (382); and Guruzeta (384).
The differences come on the right side, where Gorosabel plays more than De Marcos at the European level; and in the double pivot, with Prados and Galarreta occupying the places equivalent to Jauregizar and Sancet in the League. Valverde, based on the same lineup by accumulated minutes, is very clear about what is the main framework of his Athletic team. We have to wait to see what will happen from now on with the appearance on the scene of the recovered Unai Simón and even Yeray, who for one reason or another has lacked continuity to date. The double pivot match is also served.
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.
