Athletic Bilbao Prepares for Key Matches After Atalanta Victory

Athletic Bilbao returns this Thursday morning from Bergamo after securing a victory against Atalanta, strengthening their position for qualification into the knockout stage of the competition. The team celebrated their triumph over a rival that was expected to contend for one of the top three spots in the group phase. They will now face Sporting Lisbon at San Mamés on January 28 to determine their fate.

In this critical Champions League match, Athletic’s coach Valverde will be without Jauregizar, who received a one-match suspension due to accumulating yellow cards. The midfielder from Bermeo performed admirably at the New Balance Arena but did not finish the game. Valverde substituted him shortly after Guruzeta’s equalizing goal, as Jauregizar’s presence will be essential in the upcoming league duel at the Pizjuán against Sevilla.

Jauregizar becomes the first player from Athletic to accumulate three yellow cards, leading to this suspension. His contribution extends beyond mere statistics, as he ranks second in total minutes played behind Simón. His absence will be significantly felt as they face the Lisbon team, who will arrive in Bilbao with hopes of advancing to the tournament’s quarterfinals.

Jauregizar, who started alongside Rego against Atalanta, will see Galarreta step in as the primary midfielder under Valverde’s strategy. However, it is expected that Valverde will welcome back Yuri, Berenguer, and Nico, all of whom missed the match in Bergamo due to injuries. Additionally, there is a strong possibility that Laporte, who has been sidelined since the match against Atlético in December, may also be fit to participate in the upcoming game.