Challenging Cup Match Ahead for Athletic
Athletic is set to begin its Cup campaign this Saturday, facing off against UD Logroñés at 9:30 p.m. The defending champion has been warned about the potential difficulties of this match, as UD Logroñés has yet to lose at home and has already eliminated Eibar and Girona in the previous qualifying rounds. Additionally, Mallorca’s recent loss to Pontevedra serves as another cautionary tale.
The team, consisting of 22 footballers, arrived at their concentration hotel in Logroño to great fanfare, with several hundred people waiting to greet them. Many players reciprocated the enthusiasm by taking photographs and signing autographs. The match is expected to be a preview of the excitement that the city will experience the following day with the traditional Three Kings Parade.
Coach Valverde has indicated that he will field a recognizable team, although it may not be the same lineup that would start in a title-deciding match. The sold-out stands of Las Gaunas, which will generate close to 700,000 euros for the club, will provide a lively atmosphere. However, the conditions on the field will be challenging, with temperatures ranging from 5 to 6 degrees and a strong west wind. The team will be without Padilla, who is set to leave on loan, and the injured Sancet, Galarreta, and Yeray.
Athletic will return to Lezama just one hour after the match and the entire squad will be required to train at noon on Sunday, regardless of the result. The team will have the afternoon free and will meet again for breakfast in Lezama on the morning of Three Kings’ Day. They will then train at 10 a.m. and depart for Arabia at noon, where they will face Barcelona in the Super Cup semifinal on Wednesday.