Athletic Club pair train separately from squad ahead of Atlético showdown | OneFootball

Two members of the defensive ranks at La Liga outfit Athletic Club were put through individualised sessions at the club’s training base on Tuesday.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who have provided an insight into the latest developments behind the scenes in the Basque Country.

Athletic, of course, are currently in the process of preparing for what could prove to be a season-defining outing this weekend.

Amid their ongoing battle for a top-4 berth, Ernesto Valverde’s troops are primed to make the trip to the Wanda Metropolitano, for a showdown with Atlético Madrid.

With just three points separating them in 4th and 5th in the La Liga table, the outcome in Spain’s capital could prove decisive in which of the two clubs ends up plying their trade in the Champions League in 2024/25.

In turn, it should not come as a major surprise to hear of boss Valverde and his coaching staff taking every possible precaution to ensure the fitness of the club’s key performers.

As per the aforementioned MD, Aitor Paredes and Yuri Berchiche trained separately from the rest of Athletic’s squad on Tuesday.

Both defenders were forced into premature departures from last Friday’s meeting with Granada, owing to respective fitness concerns.

The hope, however, is that Paredes and Yuri, if taken proper care of over the days ahead, will be available to feature from the off at the Metropolitano on Saturday night.

Conor Laird | GSFN