Athletic Club Prepares for Crucial Match Against Sevilla After Champions League Victory

The celebration of Athletic Club’s victory over Atalanta in the Champions League has been momentarily set aside as they shift focus to upcoming challenges. A decisive match against Sporting de Portugal on January 28 at San Mamés looms, where a win would confirm their progression to the knockout stages; even a draw could suffice, depending on other results. However, the immediate priority is this Saturday’s encounter against Sevilla at the Pizjuán, aimed at breaking their poor league streak, with hopes that the momentum from their Champions League success will translate to La Liga.

Upon returning to Bilbao, the team held a training session on Thursday, which yielded encouraging news. Players Berenguer, Yuri, Nico, and Laporte joined the training with those who did not start against Atalanta, signaling their potential return to the squad. Among them, Laporte appears to be the most likely to participate in the Champions League match against Sporting de Portugal. Meanwhile, starters focused on recovery, with Sancet, who played the entire second half, and Vesga, who was substituted in, adhering to a similar recovery routine.

The league standings compel Athletic Club, who have managed just one win in their last five league games, suffering three defeats during this stretch. Currently, they sit with 24 points, four points clear of Valencia, the first team outside the relegation zone, yet only one victory separates them from Sevilla, their upcoming opponents, Getafe, and Mallorca, who recently defeated Valverde’s squad.

The exertion from the match against Atalanta has taken its toll, although it was a rewarding effort. Robert Navarro, named MVP of the match and nominated for the best player of the week, reported muscular fatigue but is expected to participate in the Pizjuán clash. Nico Serrano, who scored Athletic’s second goal in the match and was recognized by UEFA as one of the best goals of the week, is also set to return to rotation after a challenging period. The Athletic Club will enter the Pizjuán stadium with heightened adrenaline, ready to face their next challenge.