Athletic Club Faces CyD Leonesa in Copa with Berenguer Sidelined

Athletic Club is set to travel to León to face CyD Leonesa in the Copa del Rey, but will do so without winger Alex Berenguer in the lineup. The Navarre native has been ruled out of coach Valverde’s plans due to traumatic arthritis affecting the first toe of his right foot, a condition he has been managing since the start of the season.

Berenguer will miss the match this Tuesday at the Reino de León, and it remains uncertain whether his absence will extend into future games. Previously, this injury forced him to miss one Champions League match and two La Liga games, with recovery taking place during the October FIFA international break. The nature of his injury is compatible with Hallux rigidus, which impacts the metatarsophalangeal joint, resulting in limited movement and pain.

Since sustaining the injury, the winger has appeared in 17 matches but has continued to experience discomfort. Berenguer has undergone multiple injections and has adhered to a specialized training regimen. Despite these efforts, the pain persists, necessitating a return to rest and treatment periods.