Athletic Club Faces Challenges Ahead of Derbi and Copa Del Rey Quarterfinals

omidbasir- Athletic Club has bid farewell to the Champions League, concluding the group stage with a defeat against Sporting Lisbon, which saw them concede two goals in the second half, one notably during stoppage time. This pattern mirrors their struggles in La Liga, where the team has recorded poor statistics in the latter half of matches.

So far this season, the lions have conceded 19 goals after halftime, with three of those occurring during stoppage time. The upcoming derbi is critical, as Real Sociedad has shown a similar propensity for second-half performances, matching the number of goals the Athletic has conceded in that period while having allowed 16 goals themselves. In contrast, Athletic has managed only nine league goals during second halves, with none scored in stoppage time.

The squad is highly focused on securing points in the league to create a buffer above the relegation zone, aiming for a more comfortable position before facing Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. “Things are not going as well as last year, but the team is ready to turn things around. We have the players and the quality to do so. The derbi is a significant match for us. It’s more than just three points; we need to give it our all,” emphasized Rego.

The team returned to training at Lezama on Thursday, but several players’ fitness remains uncertain. Iñaki Williams will miss the upcoming derbi, Vivian missed the match against Sporting due to a muscular overload, putting him at risk of injury, and Sancet is awaiting medical assessments for a muscle issue that forced him to exit the Champions League match.

During Thursday’s training session, Nico and Laporte participated in outdoor drills with a group that included striker Hierro and Monreal, a central defender whom Valverde has been including in league convocations and who may play in the derbi if Vivian does not recover. The intense rivalry match may also see the return of Laporte, who has been sidelined since December due to a muscle rupture.