Athletic Club Prepares for Copa del Rey Quarterfinals Against Valencia

The derby is now behind Athletic Club, which is turning its focus to the upcoming quarterfinal match in the Copa del Rey against Valencia. The Lions are set to face off at Mestalla on Wednesday, confident in their pursuit of a place in the semifinals, which will commence the following week and conclude in early March. However, this crucial cup tie is overshadowed by adversity, as the team’s defense is severely depleted.

Coach Ernesto Valverde emphasized the need to find solutions following the recent match against Real Sociedad, particularly regarding the starting role of young center-back Nacho Monreal, who is just 20 years old. Monreal, who joined Athletic in the summer of 2024 to play for Basconia, has also participated in three matches with Bilbao Athletic this season. He has played 13 games with the reserve team and has been called up for eight league matches, two cup matches, and one Supercopa match. However, he has yet to feature in the Champions League due to not meeting the club’s seniority requirements for the B-list. He also saw minutes during the Euskal Herria Txapela final against Osasuna this summer.

The absences of Aymeric Laporte and Unai Vivian, coupled with Yeray’s suspension, have left the center-back position critically understaffed. In recent matches, Valverde has experimented with Yuri’s repositioning, with Lekue also playing in that role alongside Paredes. The situation will be even more dire at Mestalla, as Paredes will serve the first of a two-match suspension resulting from his expulsion in the quarterfinals against Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa. Yuri is expected to be a key player once again, as he is needed in a central defensive role due to circumstances.

Athletic has two training sessions to finalize the lineup against Valencia, fully aware that they will need to rely on another emergency center-back. Vivian has been sidelined for a week due to a muscle issue, and Laporte, who has been out since December 6 due to a significant muscle tear, remains uncertain for the squad. Even in the best-case scenario, should either player return, they would likely not be fit for extensive minutes, necessitating further strategic adjustments.