Athletic travel to Prague under pressure to revive their Champions League campaign, with Nico Williams included despite ongoing pubalgia. Several key players miss out through injury, while academy talents like Hierro and Selton step in as Valverde prepares for a crucial clash against Slavia.
Athletic Club set off for Prague this Monday afternoon as they prepare for what could be a decisive Champions League matchday against Slavia.
The Basque side, who have managed just one victory so far in the group stage, are under pressure to improve their continental form and avoid falling further behind in a tightly contested group. The squad will travel by charter flight at 15:00 from Loiu Airport, with Ernesto Valverde and striker Gorka Guruzeta scheduled to address the media at 19:00 in the press room of the Fortuna Arena, the home of Slavia Prague.
This trip comes at a delicate moment for the team, which has struggled to find consistency in Europe despite showing competitiveness in La Liga. Expectations remain high among supporters, particularly as the club’s strong campaign last season when they reached the Europa League semifinals raised hopes that Athletic could take another step forward on the continental stage. Tomorrow’s match against Slavia therefore carries significant weight, not only for qualification purposes but also for the team’s confidence.
Valverde has named a list of 23 players for the match, with one of the most notable inclusions being Nico Williams. The Spanish international continues to follow a personalised training programme designed to manage the pubalgia that has been troubling him since last season. Despite the ongoing discomfort, the winger remains a key piece of the team’s attacking setup. He started on Saturday against Barcelona, though Valverde chose to substitute him before the end of the game to avoid unnecessary risk. The coaching staff are expected to handle him with the same caution in Prague, possibly repeating the pattern seen against Oviedo and Barça: start him, monitor him closely and limit his minutes if needed.
Williams has fond memories of facing Slavia, having scored against them in last season’s Europa League group stage. Athletic won that match 1-0, a result that contributed to their strong European run that eventually saw them reach the semifinals before being eliminated by Manchester United. That history gives tomorrow’s match an added narrative, especially as Athletic look for inspiration to reverse their shaky form in this year’s Champions League.
Before departing for Prague, the club confirmed that Nico Serrano will miss the trip due to a hamstring overload. The young midfielder, who was beginning to find rhythm again after earlier setbacks, will stay at Lezama to continue his recovery. His absence adds to a growing list of unavailable players. Izeta is also ruled out not only is he unregistered for the Champions League, but he is clearly not in Valverde’s plans for La Liga either. Meanwhile, the team continues to deal with long-term injuries affecting Iñaki Williams, Maroan, Prados and Egiluz. Yeray Álvarez is also unavailable due to suspension, further limiting Valverde’s options in defence.
To reinforce the squad, Valverde has once again turned to emerging talent from the club’s system. Centre-forward Hierro, currently playing for Bilbao Athletic, has been included in the match plan. He already made his first-team debut in Europe, appearing against Newcastle, and his physical profile and work rate offer Valverde a useful alternative in the forward line. Selton also remains in the squad after making his debut against Newcastle and following it up with minutes against Oviedo. His presence highlights the club’s ongoing commitment to giving opportunities to academy players when injuries force adjustments.
Once the team returns from Prague, they will be granted a rest day before resuming preparations for their next La Liga assignment: an away fixture against Levante. With a busy schedule ahead and the squad stretched thin, managing recovery and player workload will be essential in the coming weeks.
For now, the focus remains fully on Slavia and the urgent need to secure points in Europe. With several key players missing and others not fully fit, Valverde will once again have to rely on tactical discipline, team unity and the energy of promising youngsters to navigate a crucial Champions League night in Prague.
