Galarreta joins Sancet as an Athletic doubt for the derby

Galarreta is a doubt for Athletic’s derby against Real, who are due to visit San Mamés on Sunday. Oihan Sancet is also uncertain to feature. Real Sociedad are already thinking about the match, although their preparations are not due to begin until Wednesday afternoon. Pellegrino Matarazzo therefore does not yet know whether Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta will need to be included in his plans for the trip to Bilbao.

The Athletic midfielder had to leave Sunday’s match against Getafe in the 18th minute with discomfort in his right leg. Edin Terzic confirmed the problem at his press conference after the game. Gerenabarrena, who came on for Galarreta, is a strong candidate to start in midfield against Real.

A possible absence would matter to Athletic: Galarreta is important to the side and had not been injured for almost two years, after previously having problems of this kind. He could miss the next derby despite being described as Athletic’s most recent scorer in an official derby. He also scored in a 3-2 win at Anoeta, where Robert Navarro found the net as well. In another derby in Bilbao, Galarreta made it 1-1 in the 88th minute, on the day Brais was sent off while his team led 1-0.

Sancet is also a doubt because of a soleus injury, but has not been ruled out. He, too, is among the recent derby scorers. Before that fixture, Athletic will have to focus on its midweek Copa match. For their part, after the previous meeting with Levante, Real’s substitutes completed a demanding training session at Anoeta at night, in the rain, with the stands empty.