Athletic will face Barcelona with two significant absences

Athletic Club travels to Saudi Arabia to face FC Barcelona without two key defensive players. **Yuri Berchiche** and **Aymeric Laporte** have remained in Bilbao, both injured and ruled out for the **2026 Spanish Super Cup**. In total, 25 players have been called up by **Ernesto Valverde** to play the tournament's semifinal this Wednesday, January 07 (8:00 PM).

Laporte, out since December 6th, is suffering from a "severe injury" to his left hamstring and **will likely be out until early February**. Berchiche, on the other hand, also injured his right hamstring a week later and **has not recovered in time** to play against Barça.

Athletic's defense in 'trouble' against Barça

Yuri started in 16 of the first 17 league matchdays, accumulating a total of 1,558 minutes of action in all competitions and one assist before getting injured. Aymeric also featured in 'Txingurri's' lineup in nine league games and one Champions League match prior to his absence of approximately two months.

With **Yeray Álvarez** still suspended for doping until April 2026, Valverde will only have **Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes** as reliable options for the center of defense in Arabia. Andoni Gorosabel, Jesús Areso, Iván Lekue, Adama Boiro, and Iker Monreal are the other defenders called up for the Super Cup, while **Unai Egiluz** is also out due to injury.

Barring a surprise, Areso will be the starting right-back, while both Lekue and Boiro have options to replace the injured Yuri Berchiche. **Athletic has only won one of their last five matches in all competitions** (0-1 against Ourense in the Copa del Rey) and is coming off a league draw against Osasuna in Pamplona on Saturday (1-1).

More injury setbacks for Ernesto Valverde

The other three absences from Ernesto Valverde's squad to face Barcelona are **Beñat Prados** and **Maroan Sannadi**. The former will be out for the rest of the season due to a torn cruciate ligament, while the forward is still suffering from discomfort in his right meniscus, which he had surgery on last November

The rest of Athletic's XI against Barça could be made up of Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Mikel Jaureguizar in the double defensive pivot and Oihan Sancet as attacking midfielder. In attack, the Williams brothers, Nico and Iñaki, would be the wingers, with Gorka Guruzeta as the '9'.

The Basques were already thrashed by the Catalans this season (4-0) in the league on November 22nd during the official reopening of Spotify Camp Nou. Last season, the 'Lions' and the Catalans also faced each other in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals, with a victory for Barça (0-2) with goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal.

Athletic's Squad List to Face Barça in the Super Cup

• Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, Álex Padilla, Mikel Santos.
• Defenders: Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Jesús Areso, Lekue, Adama Boiro, Iker Monreal.
• Midfielders: Mikel Vesga, Oihan Sancet, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Jauregizar, Unai Gómez, Iñigo Rego, Selton Sánchez, Eder García, Urko Izeta.
• Forwards: Álex Berenguer, Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, Gorka Guruzeta, Nico Serrano, Robert Navarro.