Jauregizar Returns to Training as Athletic Bilbao Weigh Rayo Risk Ahead of Copa Semi
Athletic Bilbao's key midfielder Jauregizar trained with the group for the first time since his knee injury, with Valverde monitoring his fitness carefully.
Ernesto Valverde got a timely boost at Lezama on Wednesday as his most-used midfielder returned to group training — but Athletic aren’t about to rush anything.
The main news: Jauregizar is back on the grass
Jauregizar, the engine room of Valverde’s midfield this season, joined his teammates in a full training session for the first time since suffering a hyperextension of his right knee on 15 February. Ten days out, and now he’s back testing himself on the turf.
The big question now is whether he’ll be available for the upcoming league fixture against Rayo Vallecano, or whether Valverde decides to keep him wrapped in cotton wool for the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad. That’s a proper Basque derby with a final place on the line, so you can see why the coaching staff might want their main man fit for that one rather than risking him in a league game.
No rush, no risks
Athletic are being sensible about this. Yes, the scans came back clear — no meniscal damage, no serious ligament injury — but that doesn’t mean they’re just going to chuck him straight back in. The approach here is all about feel:
- How does he move?
- Does he trust the knee under pressure?
- Can he perform with full confidence and security?
Until those boxes are ticked, he won’t be going flat out in Valverde’s plans. Missing ten days of training isn’t the end of the world for his sharpness, and there’s even a suggestion the rest might’ve done him a bit of good given how heavily he’s been relied upon.
Berenguer also building back
Wednesday’s session was also the second consecutive group training day for Berenguer, who’s been dealing with traumatic arthritis in his right big toe — not the most glamorous of injuries, but clearly a right pain (literally). The winger is combining treatment with physical work as he tries to get back into the rhythm of the squad.
The tricky bit? He’s going to need injections to manage the condition between now and the end of the season. Not ideal, but if it keeps him available, Athletic will take it.
What it means going forward
With the business end of the season approaching — Copa semi-finals, a La Liga push — Valverde needs bodies. Jauregizar and Berenguer both returning to some form of group training in the same week is genuinely good news for the San Mamés faithful.
But don’t expect Athletic to gamble. They’ll let the midfielder’s own sensations guide the timeline, and if that means sitting out Rayo to be right for the Real Sociedad tie, that’s probably the call they’ll make.