Aritz Aduriz and Benat Etxebarria will miss Athletic Bilbao’s visit of Atletico Madrid after picking up bans in Saturday’s stalemate with Leganes.
Playmaking midfielder Benat and top goalscorer Aduriz both accumulated their fifth yellow cards of the season at Butarque, triggering one-match suspensions that rule the pair out of next weekend.
Los Leones already have Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ager Aketze and cancer patient Yeray Alvarez on the sidelines, while Xabi Etxeita is likely to join them with a muscle injury.
“We didn’t adapt to the game or situation,” Coach Ernesto Valverde said after the game.
“When you come from a stimulus as important as a cup match against Barcelona, putting all your eggs in one basket like we did and facing a Leganes side that had a good game, it’s difficult.
“For our way of playing, we have to apply a lot of intensity because we were faced with certain difficulties in this game.
“It’s essential that we play fluidly and quickly. If we slow things down we’re not as good, and today we found it difficult.”
