Athletic Bilbao has announced a last-minute drop in its squad list for this Saturday's match against Rayo Vallecano. At the time of the trip to Madrid, the club confirmed that JuanLaporte's absence was due to an illness that prevented him from traveling, leaving his seat on the plane at the disposal of another player.
The international centre-back, who had been a starter in the last games, stays at home while coach MikelTerzic decides that striker Djaló will fill the vacant position. The decision was made after an evaluation of the physical condition of Djaló, who had trained only one day before the match due to flu. Terzic had mentioned in the morning that he would wait for midday training to assess the physical response of the young striker, and finally left him off the list to make way for the youthful Imga.
The coach has not revealed details about the exact nature of Laporte's illness, nor has he commented on Djaló's state of health beyond the flu. In the press conference, Terzic highlighted the quality of the reserve team's players and ruled out the idea of replacing Laporte with a center back from the second team, despite the fact that he has trained with them this week. Instead, the coach chose to travel with three confirmed center backs: Vivian, Paredes and Yeray, and two players from other positions, Yuri and Rego, who know the defense and can cover the zone if necessary.
With Laporte absent, Athletic turns to a striker to cover the central position, a move that reflects the team's tactical flexibility. The club keeps the information confidential about the illness of its defense and Djaló's condition, but has made it clear that the squad is prepared for the match. The next match will be played at the Metropolitan Stadium, and Athletic will have to rely on the solidity of their remaining defenders and Djaló's adaptation to his new role. The result of this confrontation will be crucial for the club's position in the table and for the continuity of its defensive strategy in the season.