Athletic Club Prepares for Crucial Matches Ahead

Athletic Club will play in the league this Sunday, but their fans must not overlook the significant semifinal match against Valencia scheduled for Wednesday. Coach Valverde is keen to maintain focus on the upcoming match against Levante, acknowledging, “This is what matters most right now, and we will manage the future come Monday.” He expressed the privilege of reaching a semifinal, stating, “Any opponent from the draw would have posed a challenge. Real Sociedad has performed admirably in the Cup in recent years, with aspirations to reach the final. Both matches are derbies, and we have the recent league encounter in mind. Everything is still open. It will be exciting and challenging. There will be tension, as it is a semifinal. We consider ourselves fortunate to be in this position,” Valverde highlighted during the press conference at Lezama.

The team will play on Sunday afternoon and will then have two training sessions to prepare for the semifinal. However, there are serious doubts regarding the participation of Vivian and Berenguer, both of whom are currently sidelined for the league match. Vivian last played on January 24 against Sevilla but was unable to compete in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon due to an adductor strain. Although no medical report has been issued, the injury appears to be more severe, as he also missed the league match against Real Sociedad and the Cup fixture against Valencia. He will again be unavailable for this league round. Berenguer also missed the match at Mestalla, having just received an injection to alleviate the pain and discomfort from a lingering injury to his right big toe.

Valverde remains hopeful that the recent victory over Valencia will serve as a boost for his players in both the league and the Cup. “Winning in Valencia was a joy for everyone. It was an incredible opportunity to reach a semifinal. Such chances do not come often, and we must seize them. Our match against Valencia was closely contested, but we performed better in the second half. The game swung in our favor because we pursued it, and we need to seek motivation and inspiration across all competitions. We also did this in Bergamo against Atalanta when others counted us out,” he remarked.