Athletic is already looking at two new competitions to play

Athletic is enjoying the Christmas holidays in a state of almost complete bliss. The red and white team closed the first part of the 2024-25 season on Saturday at El Sadar in fourth place in the League, just two points behind third place, and as second in the Europa League with the same points as the leader, Lazio. , with a better goal difference, +11 compared to +9. Only the damage of Sancetthe most decisive player in the team with the brothers Williamsthe victory against Osasuna broke, the seventh of the last eight games played after the last break: Real Sociedad, Elfsborg, Rayo, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Fenerbahçe and the aforementioned Pamplona. The lions only dropped points on the visit of Alavés in Mendizorrotza in a match where they did not know how to assert themselves against the goal of Severa their superiority in the first half.

Now it’s time to recharge your batteries for what’s to come. And to come is the premiere of the next two competitions at stake, the Cup and the Super Cup. The group of Valverde will return to work this Saturday, December 28 and two days later, on Monday the 30th, he will train with the doors open in San Mamés in front of Zurigorris fans, among them many children, who going to the red and white field to inspire some players who only bring joy.

The red and white will play the first match of 2025 on January 4 in the round of 32 eliminator of the KO tournament (Las Gaunas, 9:30 pm). The rival will be UD Logroñés of the Second Federation, the fourth category of Spanish football. Riojans are fourth in group II where Arenas de Ibai Gomezwho is the ruler, and Gernika Gorka Iraizoz. They have 31 points, eight behind the sand players after eight wins, seven draws and only two losses in 17 games played. The team with the most economic power in Logroño, called to regain professional football for the capital of Rioja, eliminated the two top rivals in the previous two rounds such as Eibar (1-0) and Girona in the penalty shootout after for end extra time with a 0-0 tie.

Next, on Wednesday the 8th, it’s time to face Barça in the first semi-final of the Super Cup between the Cup champion and the runner-up from the last League, which will be played in Jeddah at eight o’clock in the evening Bilbao. The culés are at their worst moment of the season. Not only did they lose the leadership of the regularity tournament that they occupied for most of the season, but they fell to third place. They lost their last two games against Leganés and Atlético, both at the Lluis Company in Montjuïc.