Injuries blight Athletic in season of Champions League return | OneFootball

According to El Correo, injuries have turned Athletic’s first Champions League season in 11 years into an endurance test. With 18 players affected, over 66% of the squad have been sidelined, and recovery times are not disclosed.

Striker Maroan began with right knee pain, featured in nine games and scored once before surgery on 3 November. He has missed 21 matches and Valverde has said he does not know when the forward will return.

At the back, Yeray Álvarez’s doping ban pushed Yuri into centre back against PSG. Dani Vivian suffered an adductor problem after a 27 January setback, missing Sporting de Portugal, the Real Sociedad derby and the Copa quarter-final at Valencia, and is doubtful for Levante. A centre back from Agen was cleared by FIFA on 11 September after Al Nassr’s delay, later tore his left hamstring on 6 December v Atlético, spent two months out and returned on Wednesday v Valencia.

Iñaki Williams has endured three separate setbacks between October and January, missing 12 games, and returned last Sunday against Real Sociedad. Nico Williams sustained a moderate left adductor injury with Spain in Türkiye in September 2025, missed six matches, and ongoing pubalgia has ruled him out of five of eight Champions ties and the Supercopa, with a specialist advising treatment that could mean more weeks out.

Midfielder Beñat Prados ruptured the ACL in September after five friendlies and two league games, is running again and says he hopes to help late in the campaign.

Source: El Correo