Athletic's injury boost as Berenguer returns while Yuri and Nico remain doubtful
Athletic Club get positive fitness updates ahead of crucial Sevilla clash, with Berenguer, Yuri, Nico and Laporte all making progress in their recovery.
After securing Champions League progression against Atalanta, Athletic Club now turn their attention to breaking their poor Liga form when they visit the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán this weekend.
Injury updates bring good news
The morning after their European triumph in Bergamo brought positive developments on the injury front. Alex Berenguer, Yuri Berchiche, Nico Williams and Aymeric Laporte all trained on the pitch alongside the players who didn’t start against Atalanta.
Berenguer looks the most likely to make an immediate return to the squad for Saturday’s clash with Sevilla, while Yuri and Nico remain touch and go. Laporte appears to be the furthest behind in his recovery timeline, with the former Man City defender more realistically targeting the crucial Champions League fixture against Sporting CP on January 28th.
The first-team regulars who started in Italy underwent recovery sessions inside the training facilities, with Oihan Sancet (who played the entire second half) and Mikel Vesga (who came on as a sub) following similar protocols.
League form needs sorting
The Lions have been proper pants in La Liga recently, winning just one of their last five matches and suffering three defeats during that stretch. Their current tally of 24 points puts them only four points above the drop zone, though victory at the Pizjuán would draw them level with Sevilla, who sit alongside Getafe and Mallorca on 27 points.
Despite the physical demands of the Atalanta match, there were some notable bright spots:
- Robert Navarro was named MVP but experienced muscle fatigue, though he’s expected to feature against Sevilla
- Nico Serrano, whose stunning strike against Atalanta was nominated by UEFA as one of the week’s best goals, should return to the rotation after a challenging period
Ernesto Valverde’s men will arrive in Seville with adrenaline pumping from their European exploits, hoping that Champions League momentum can translate into domestic success.