Palma/Bilbao, Apr 30 (EFE).- Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao will play each other this Monday, in the match that closes the 32nd day of LaLiga in Son Moix, key points in the objectives of ensuring permanence and fighting for a place in European competitions, respectively.
The vermilions led by Javier Aguirre have 40 points and are one step away from sealing their third consecutive season in the First Division.
The Mexican coach recovers the midfielder Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta and the center-back Antonio Raillo, two very important footballers in the schemes of the Mexican coach. The man from Eibar and the man from Córdoba completed the sanction match against Atlético de Madrid last day due to the accumulation of yellow cards, and they return to the eleven in a special match for both.
Ruiz de Galarreta has not renewed and everything indicates that he will be a player for the Bilbao team next season; Raillo, for his part, will return to eleven after signing this week the renewal of his contract until 2026.
Aguirre also recovers the Slovak central defender Martin Valjent, who was out at the last minute at the Wanda Metropolitano due to intestinal problems.
The “Vasco” will be able to line up his gala team against Athletic, including Kang In Lee and Vedat Muriqi, two of the most fit footballers of the Majorcan players; The South Korean and the Kosovar were not part of the starting eleven last day against Atlético and only played a few minutes in the second half.
Mallorca has had an irregular trajectory in its stadium this season. In Son Moix Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal lost, Elche won and Osasuna and Real Sociedad tied.
Athletic has, for the second day in a row, to get into the European positions in the table. A privilege that within a week could also have the position it now occupies in the table, seventh, if Real Madrid beat Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final.
Although, while waiting for that final from which the Navarrese team knocked him out, what Ernesto Valverde’s men want is to continue gaining options to achieve the goal publicly set by the president, coach and staff: to return to competitions next season European.
The ‘lions’ missed their first opportunity this week, last Thursday against a Sevilla that took the victory at San Mamés at the last minute with a disputed penalty in a clash with some more merit from the locals, who also questioned one of the two goals that the VAR annulled them, that of the visitors.
But Athletic did not achieve what they wanted on Thursday and now they will have to do it at home at the Visit Mallorca Estadi. Where he will also seek his fourth consecutive win away from home, after those obtained in Valladolid (1-3), Cornellà-El Prat (1-2) and Almería (1-2) within a 13-point streak prior to the last day achieved out of 15 possible.
To try it, Valverde recovers those suspended in the last day, Mikel Vesga and Oier Zarraga, and it is possible that also the injured Iñigo Martínez and Iñigo Lekue.
On the other hand, Oihan Sancet, who completed his card cycle against Sevilla, will be suspended due to suspension, and will continue without being able to count on captain Iker Muniain, injured. Which complicates a midfield position in which they take over between the two, depending on where he prefers to place Sancet.
That is, in principle, the only unknown for tomorrow’s line-up. The clearest options to clear it are those of Berenguer, in a very offensive decision, or those of Vesga or Zarraga. As Vesga will return to eleven for sure, the tallest from Alava will most likely join Dani García and Ander Herrera as the third midfielder.
For the rest, awaiting the evolution of Iñigo Martínez, who could get the shock too soon after the muscular discomfort that made him miss the clash against Sevilla, it is presumed to start the block of recent weeks with the Williams in the bands and Gorka Guruzeta above.
– Probable lineups:
Mallorca: Rajkovic; Maffeo, Raillo, Valjent, Copete, Jaume Costa; Ruiz de Galarreta, Morlanes, Dani Rodriguez; Kang In Lee; Muriqi.
Athletic: Unai Simon; De Marks, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Dani Garcia, Blacksmith, Vesga; Iñaki Williams, Nico Williams and Guruzeta.
Referee: Jorge Figueroa Vázquez (Andalusian Committee)
Stadium: Son Moix
Time: 19.00.