San Mamés measures the European candidacy of a Rayo that looks upwards
Valverde’s men seek to continue in European places and distance Francisco’s men
Athletic Club hopes to celebrate the renewal of Nico Williams, the last of the great ‘pearls’ from Lezama and in the spotlight of the most powerful European clubs, with a party against Rayo Vallecanowho arrives at the event exultant after his good game against Barcelona and the proximity to Europe.
Nico has signed for three seasons, until 2027, when he will be about to turn 25, thus ending the uncertainty that had settled in the surroundings of the rojiblanco club regarding the continuity of one of its starsjust a month before he could negotiate with any other club without the need for a prior transfer.
Apart from the party with Nico, both teams come to the clash with Europe in the lead. The Bilbao native with the idea of consolidating his fifth place and getting excited about the Champions League places and the Madrid player with the goal of closing the gap with those in the Europe and Conference leagues, from which they are five points away.
Athletic faces the match very emotionally strengthened by its draw on the last day, andn 1-1 against the surprising and unstoppable Girona after the local coach, Míchel Sánchez, recognized his undoubted merit.
ANDErnesto Valverde’s team equalized the opening goal of the Ukrainian Viktor Tsygankov cThis was Iñaki Williams’ sixth goal so far this season, the same goals scored by Gorka Guruzeta.
They accompanied the oldest of the saga in the leading role his brother Nico, elected best player of the match; Oihan Sancet, with a splendid pass to Iñaki in the goal; and Unai Simón, with one of those stops that earn points. Although perhaps the most outstanding of the Biscayan team was Mikel Vesga, with two passes to remember in the game.
To all of them, Williams, Sancet, Simón, Vesga, Guruzeta and Lekue are expected in the starting eleven along with the rest of the defensive block, Oscar de Marcos and the center backs Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes, and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta accompanying Vesga in the double pivot.
If Yuri Berchiche could start on the left sideonce recovered from the discomfort in his fibula that has prevented him from playing the last five games, although the length of his absence and the good moment that Lekue is going through, perhaps in his best moment at Athletic, encourages him to bet on him. from Deusto.
Otherwise, Athletic faces the clash with the only casualties of Yeray Álvarez and Dani Garcíaeven with several more weeks of recovery ahead, since Malcom Adu Ares, who was injured, has overcome the consequences of a strong blow suffered in a knee in Girona.
In front is Rayo Vallecano, which He arrives at the event morally reinforced after the good game played last day against Barcelonawhich he was close to winning, demonstrating the playing potential he has with a highly compensated squad.
The best news for Francisco Rodríguez this week is the return of one of its most decisive players, Álvaro García, who served a one-match suspension last day. It is most likely that he will return to the starting eleven and may be the only new addition to the starting team.
The main doubt lies in the point of attack since Raúl de Tomás has not played for two games due to a technical decision and the Almería coach announced a few days ago that he could have minutes in San Mamésalthough he did not reveal whether at the beginning or as a substitute for Sergio Camello, who seems to have won the game as an offensive reference.