The possible Athletic Club lineups according to the sports press

Athletic Club

The goalkeeper and the full-backs seem to offer few doubts heading into the game. Unai Simón is set to start, with Jesús Areso and Yuri Berchiche on the flanks, while the double pivot would again be made up of Gerenabarrena and Ruiz de Galarreta.

The match will be played this Saturday at San Mamés, at 16:15, as part of the fourth round of competition. The Athletic Club host the side of Diego Pablo Simeone after beating Celta de Vigo on Monday by 0-2 at Balaídos, a result that could push Edin Terzic to keep a large part of the team.

Two areas of uncertainty

The most open contest is in the heart of the back line. Yeray Álvarez and Aitor Paredes are competing to partner Aymeric Laporte, a doubt that is also reflected in the predictions published by the press.

There is no unanimity up front either. The possible absence of Iñaki Williams from the starting XI leaves room for alternatives such as Álex Berenguer or Robert Navarro, although not all forecasts have him out. There is more agreement on Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta, who appear in all three of the probable lineups consulted.

AS draws up an XI with Unai Simón; Jesús Areso, Paredes or Yeray, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche; Gerenabarrena, Ruiz de Galarreta; Navarro or Berenguer, Sancet, Nico Williams; Guruzeta. The paper leaves two clear questions: the centre-back who will play alongside Laporte and the player who will occupy one of the wide positions.

MARCA backs Unai Simón; Jesús Areso, Yeray, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche; Gerenabarrena, Ruiz de Galarreta; Berenguer, Sancet, Nico Williams; Guruzeta. In its preview, Yeray wins the defensive battle and Berenguer goes forward, with Iñaki Williams left out of the starting team against the Atlético de Madrid.

Mundo Deportivo suggests Unai Simón; Jesús Areso, Yeray, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche; Gerenabarrena, Ruiz de Galarreta; Iñaki Williams, Sancet, Nico Williams; Guruzeta. Its pick matches MARCA almost completely, although it keeps Iñaki Williams as a starter instead of Álex Berenguer.