In the day 21 of LaLiga the faces will be measured again on Athletic Club and Valencia in the stadium of the che team, mestalla.
The meeting will take place on Saturday February 11 and the initial whistle will be at 9:00 p.m. CET.
Situation of both teams
Both Athletic and Valencia have marked this match as a key date, since the two teams play itbut for different reasons. The rojiblancos they have to add the three points to continue with the illusion of entering Europe postssince it is only one victory away from arriving.
The opposite happens with Valencia, since it is only one point away from entering relegation places, and not only the club plays it, but also the directive is also on the tightrope due to the displeasure of the fans and the riots that have been taking place lately.
These two teams are celebrating, since they have faced each other 199 times and this Saturday is the bicentennial. In those 199 games, those from Bilbao have won 73 times, the Valencians on 78 and in just 48 they have tied.
The two teams recently met in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey. After the final whistle the rojiblancos prevailed by three goals to one and they made it through the round. Knowing this, the Valencians will try to seek revenge, while the lions will try to repeat that result.
He head referee of the party will be César soto degree. The last time the man from Toledo refereed the two teams was on matchday two and the match ended 1-0 with the rojiblancos victory. soto degree He handed out seven yellow cards in total, five for the people of Bilbao and two for the Valencians.
The manager of WAS it will be Gonzalez Gonzalezwhile the assistants will be Diego Barbero and Álvarez Fernández and finally the charge of 4th referee will occupy it Ruben Ruiperez Marin.
As for the key Athletic playersit is impossible not to mention the MVP of the match against Cádiz Jungle Sancet. After a magnificent game at home with Hat-trick included, Sancet arrives at Mestalla in very good shape and wanting to get goals on the scoreboard. Another of the most influential figures in the rojiblanco team is the captain Iker Muniain. The midfielder from Navarra has been key in the rojiblanco team for many years now thanks to his passes, his goals and his vision of the game. Regarding the defense of the lions, it is impossible not to pay attention to Yeray Alvarez as one of the maximum defensive bastions. Finally, we will also have to pay attention to the return to the playing fields of Iñaki Williams after spending a day without playing a game, a situation that prohibited him from increasing his consecutive game record in LaLiga, leaving his mark on 251.
As to the locals their star player is the Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani. The 35-year-old matador continues to be a fundamental piece of each team he goes to, and in Valencia it could not be less since he is the “pichichi” of the team. The team captain cannot miss this appointment for his team, jose gaya it is vital in the defense of the che team to avoid the attacks of the lions. Valencia’s last trump card is the young Portuguese midfielder André Almeida. The midfielder has been key in the last few games for the Valencian team and is expected to continue in the same vein for the match against Athletic.
As usual, the coaches of the two teams have appeared before the press ahead of Saturday’s game.
The press conference addressed to the Txingurri has been full of questions with the theme of the injured playersespecially of Ander Herrera e Iñigo Martinez. Martinez has also been a protagonist when the coach has been asked about the interest of clubs like the Atletico Madrid or Barcelona towards the player, and if he is more outside or more inside the club. To this Valverde pointed out that he sees it “inside” and that it is not the first time that one of his players is “on everyone’s lips”.
The technician rookie of the conjunto who, Voro GonzálezHe commented that he is “sure” that in Saturday’s game they will be a team “competitivewho is going to show his face, daring, with clear ideas and who need to win“.
Los twenty-two summoned by Valverde son: Unai Simon, Agirrezabala, Iru, Morcillo, Vivian, Yeray, Vesga, Berenguer, O. Sancet, I. Williams, Muniain, N. Williams, Cruzeta, Daniel Garcia, I. Lekue, Winner, De Marcos, Zarraga, Capa, Raul Garcia, Balenziaga and Paredes.
As for the Athletic Everything seems to indicate that the starting eleven will be something similar to this:
The indisputable will defend the goal unai simon. in the rear Vivian and Yeray will be the center-backs, covered by Lekue and De Marcos which will be lateral In the center of the field will be the captain Iker Muniain next to Vesgaand something more advanced Sancet. The ends will be covered by Alex Berenguer y Nico Williamsand in front the brother of the latter, Iñaki Williams.
Most likely, the final lineup of the joint that be one very similar to this:
I would be in the goal Mamardashvili. Protecting him would be the defenders: the captain Jose Luis Gaya, Ozkacar, Generous and Foulquier. The midfield would be led by André Almeida, Musah and Toni Lato. Finally, the top three would be Samuel Lin, Sam Castillejo and the matador Edinson Cavani.