Athletic Club Prepares for Sevilla Match After Champions League Victory

The celebration for Athletic Club’s Champions League victory over Atalanta, which secured their advancement to the knockout rounds, was momentarily set aside in Bergamo. The team has since returned to Bilbao, where they are now focusing on preparations for their upcoming match. Athletic will face Sevilla this Saturday at the Pizjuán Stadium, hoping to break their poor run in La Liga and leverage their Champions League points as motivation.

During Thursday’s training session upon returning from their trip, the team received encouraging news: Berenguer, Yuri, Nico, and Laporte joined the training field alongside those who did not start against Atalanta. The first three are strong candidates for inclusion in the upcoming matchday squad, while Laporte appears to be the most prepared among them, likely to be named in the Champions League squad against Sporting Lisbon. The starters engaged in recovery sessions at the facilities, with Sancet, who played the entire second half, and Vesga, one of the substitutes, also participating in the routine.

The current standings press Athletic Club, who have only managed one victory in their last five league matches, suffering three losses during that period. With 24 points, they sit four points ahead of Valencia, the first team outside the relegation zone, yet are only one victory away from the trio comprising Sevilla, their immediate opponent, Getafe, and Mallorca, the latest team to defeat the side coached by Valverde.

The exertion from the match against Atalanta has taken its toll, albeit positively: Robert Navarro, named MVP of the match and nominated for the best player of the week, has reported muscle fatigue but will continue to participate in the match at Pizjuán. Nico Serrano, who scored the 1-2 goal recognized by UEFA as one of the best goals of the week, will also re-enter the rotation after a challenging period. Athletic Club will enter the Pizjuán with heightened adrenaline and determination.