ATHLETIC NEWS

Oscar De Marcos - Records assist De Marcos assisted once to go with five crosses (two accurate) and two chances created in Friday's 4-0 victory over Mallorca.

Impact Following his return from a month-plus-long leg injury, de Marcos needed only two games to log an assist. That was the case Friday, as he helped Athletic's team directly record its fourth goal, which was scored by Iker Muniain. Already with four assists across the 2023-24 La Liga, it is easily shaping up to be one of de Marcos' best seasons yet.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Simon - Another two-save clean sheet Simon registered two saves and allowed zero goals in Friday's 4-0 victory over Mallorca.

Impact Simon began February the same way he finished January, with a two-save clean sheet. After a bit of a lull in January, he is back to top form, with five clean sheets across his last seven appearances. Simon will look to make it six in eight at Almeria on Feb. 12.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Williams - Picks up injury Williams was forced off in the second half of Friday's clash with Mallorca with an apparent injury. Williams produced an assist before coming off.

Impact Williams was holding his hip when he came off, though it wasn't clear what the exact issue was. Iker Munian came on to replace Williams, though he doesn't offer nearly as much going forward as Williams does. Williams will hope to get back on the pitch for a Feb. 12 trip to Almeria, a match that gives him a full 10 days to recover.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Inigo Lekue - Not in squad to play Friday Lekue (thigh) is not in the squad to play Friday against Mallorca.

Impact Lekue suffered the injury at some point during training this week, so his absence is not really a surprise. Yuri Berchiche will likely move into the starting lineup on the left side of the defense, while Lekue's next chance to play will come against Almeria on Feb. 12.

FEBRUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Inigo Lekue - Dealing with thigh injury Lekue suffered a thigh injury in the lead-up to Friday's clash with Mallorca.

Impact Lekue was subbed off in the 51st minute versus Cadiz on Sunday due to his thigh problem and now could be at risk of missing out against Mallorca. In his last five appearances, the defender registered six crosses (one accurate), eight tackles (five won) and 10 clearances. Yuri Berchiche figures to step into the starting XI if Lekue can't play.

JANUARY 31 • ROTOWIRE

PWHL Power Rankings: Minnesota impresses, New York disappoints a third of the way into the season One month into the league's inaugural season, it's time for The Athletic’s first-ever PWHL Power Rankings.

JANUARY 30 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Ander Herrera - One shot in goalless draw Herrera generated one shot (not on goal) in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Cadiz.

Impact Herrera was one of the brighter lights in a muted Athletic performance on Sunday. He played his part in defensive midfield duties and managed to place an off-target shot. His work rate has been consistently high this season but he is not one of the team's main playmakers, it has been seven appearances since his last assist.

JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Asier Villalibre - Ineffective performance in first start Villalibre recorded one shot (not on goal) and created a chance in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Cadiz.

Impact Villalibre was poor on Sunday, he was in the classic number nine role but only managed to place one shot and that was not on-goal. Unsurprisingly he was subbed after 70 minutes. The match was his first start, he is usually deployed from the bench to provide fresh attacking energy to the latter stage of a game. Apart from four goals in two January Copa del Rey fixtures, he has not been effective for the club in LaLiga matches.

JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Malcom Adu - No shots on goal in stalemate draw Adu was injured and subbed out in the 62nd minute of Sunday's 0-0 draw with Cadiz. He registered three shots (none on goal), three crosses (none accurate) and one corner before exi...

Impact Adu did not manage any shots on-goal on Sunday, but he came closest to scoring for Athletic Club with a fine strike that beat the keeper but soared just over the bar. The 22-year-old striker was subbed after 62 with an injury, it is unclear whether it will prevent him from being in the squad for Athletic's next against Mallorca. This was Adu's first LaLiga match start, he has been used recently from the bench to add fresh attacking energy in the latter stages of games but is yet to find the net.

JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Simon - Fourth clean sheet in last six games Simon registered two saves and kept a clean sheet in Sunday's goalless draw with Cadiz.

Impact Simon ensured that Athletic Club left the match with a point on Sunday by pulling off two top-class saves. The goalless draw was a sterile affair but his talents ensured both shots he faced on-goal were effectively dealt with. The regular starter has delivered four clean sheets from his last six appearances.

JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Dani Garcia - Makes bench Sunday Garcia (quadriceps) is in the squad to face Cadiz on Sunday.

Impact Garcia returns from a quad injury which has kept him out of action since November. The midfielder starts from the bench but is available if called upon Sunday.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Oscar De Marcos - Returns to starting XI de Marcos (leg) is in the starting XI for Sunday's match against Cadiz.

Impact de Marcos returns from a leg injury which kept him out of last week's match against Valencia, while also returning from an ankle injury that has kept him out since December. The fullback is a locked in starter when fully fit having been involved in four goals across his 14 La Liga starts.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Ten Hag calls for standards to change at Man Utd with INEOS investment Erik ten Hag emphasised the need for change in the standards at Manchester United, highlighting that the minority investment from Sir Jim Ra...

JANUARY 26 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Inside PSV's academy: Goldilocks pitches, cognitive training and a pathway to success The Athletic spent two days with PSV's academy, whose luminaries include Depay, Gakpo, Madueke and Malen

JANUARY 26 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Inaki Williams - Scores go ahead goal in Copa de Rey Williams returned from the AFCON Cup and came off the bench to score the go-ahead goal against Barcelona during the Copa de Rey quarterfinals.

Impact Williams flew back to Spain after Ghana was kicked out of the AFCON Cup, where he made just one appearance off the bench. He will return to the starting XI for Athletic Club after his hot start to the La Liga season, scoring eight goals with three assists in 18 matches played, all of them coming as starts. He only needs five more goals to match his career high of goals for a single campaign with four months left on the season.

JANUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Argentina to play friendlies in Chicago and Maryland ahead of Copa America: Sources Argentina and captain Lionel Messi will play two international friendlies in the U.S. ahead of this summer’s Copa América, sources told The...

JANUARY 24 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Mikel Vesga - Plays half Wednesday Vesga (hamstring) played 45 minutes during Wednesday's clash with Barcelona.

Impact Vesga suffered the hamstring injury before Saturday's clash with Valencia, but it appears it was a minor issue in the end. The midfielder is a key piece of the starting XI and, barring some sort of setback, should be back on the pitch for a Sunday trip to Cadiz.

JANUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Sens notebook: Andlauer sheds Canadiens fandom, moms share favourite road trip moments Andlauer invited The Athletic to sit with him for a conversation as he prepared for his first game at the Bell Centre as Senators owner.

JANUARY 24 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Williams could play for Athletic Club against Bara after AFCON exit Inaki Williams has flown back from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and could play for Athletic Bilbao against Barcelona on Wednesday night...

JANUARY 24 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Mikel Vesga - Picks up hamstring injury Vesga picked up a hamstring injury in his left leg and was not an option for Saturday's 1-0 loss to Valencia.

Impact Vesga had started two of the last four matches, recording a goal in that span. This comes after starting five of the last eight games. If the midfielder is not fit for Sunday, then either Ander Hererra or Benat Prados Diaz could get the start in the defensive midfield alongside Ruiz de Galarreta.

JANUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Yuri Berchiche - Five crosses in loss Berchiche recorded one shot (zero on goal) and five crosses (zero accurate) in Saturday's 1-0 defeat versus Valencia.

Impact Berchiche tied his match-high for crosses Saturday, whipping in five during the loss. Outside of his crosses, he was kept relatively quiet, only registering one shot, a tackle won and four clearances. He has now returned to his starting spot in the club's past five matches after returning from a strain that kept him out for three contests. Since returning, he has managed to notch five chances created, six interceptions, 11 tackles, 13 crosses and 20 clearnces in that span.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Berenguer - Leads match in crosses Berenguer had one shot (zero on goal), eight crosses (one accurate) and one corner in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Valencia.

Impact Berenguer led the match in crosses Saturday, notching eight crosses for the second match in a row. He has now started in the club's past three contests after mainly serving in a bench role to start the season, earning two goals on five shots to go along with three chances created, three tackles and 22 crosses across that span. The attacker will hope to keep a hold of the starting spot moving forward, as he has yet to have a lackluster match since taking over the role.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Simon - Brutal day in net Simon registered no saves and allowed one goal in Saturday's 1-0 defeat versus Valencia.

Impact Simon couldn't have drawn it up any worse Saturday, as he only faced one shot on net, which he allowed for a goal while registering zero saves. He has now gone the last two matches without a clean sheet, following a stretch where he had three clean sheets in a row. He will look to pick up his 10th clean sheet of the season in the club's next match against Cadiz on Sunday as he tries to maintain the league lead in clean sheets among all goalkeepers.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Dani Garcia - Nearing return Garcia (quadriceps) is in the final stages of his recovery, but is out for Saturday's clash with Valencia, Marca reports.

Impact Garcia wasn't called up for Saturday's match as he progresses through the very final stages of the recovery process. The midfielder will be a major boon to get back but he's now missed more than two months so he won't be rushed back to major minutes.

JANUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Dani Garcia - Won't play Saturday Garcia (quadriceps) is not in the squad to face Valencia on Saturday.

Impact No real surprises here, as Garcia doesn't have a timetable for his return to action. His next chance to feature will come against Cadiz on Jan. 28.

JANUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE