Athletic Bilbao Coach Ernesto Valverde has confirmed Aritz Aduriz and Iker Muniain are fitness doubts ahead of the game against Real Madrid.
Valverde told his pre-match Press conference that the pair would need further tests to discover if they could line up against Los Blancos on Sunday.
“Aduriz will need some tests in the afternoon. He has a groin problem,” Valverde said, AS reports.
“We think it might not be serious.
“Muniain has a back strain and hasn’t trained as a precaution. Mikel Rico has a few knocks too.”
Athletic have been in disappointing form to start the season but even in light of the three fitness concerns he detailed, Valverde dismissed the suggestion fitness has been a factor.
“The physical part has nothing to do with it, with our intensity,” he insisted.
“It has more to do with the speed and quickness of our play and knowing when we need to up the pressure.
“The team knows that it’s going to be complicated to recover the situation. We’re coming from a very painful defeat [against BATE Borisov].
“But every time we’ve been in a bad situation we have reacted. We’re a normal team and when things go well, we can do very well. Last year was extraordinary.
“And of course we’re ready [to play Madrid]. It should be a game in which they don’t feel comfortable. Madrid are strong but we have to get in their faces.
“We are in a difficult situation but a crisis of this kind has to be faced up to. There are many positives we can take.”
