TOUGH WEEK! Bilbao to face RM, Atletico Madrid, and PSG within one week!

Athletic Bilbao is about to face the toughest test of the season: three consecutive matches against top European teams within a week. Starting this Thursday, they will first host Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid at home, and then face Paris Saint-Germain next Thursday.

According to Marca, Athletic Bilbao is facing a severe test against time - the team will play consecutive matches against Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Paris Saint - Germain within seven days, experiencing the most intense week of fixtures in all of Europe. Among them, the two La Liga matches against Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will be held at San Mamés Stadium on Thursday and Sunday this week respectively, while Paris Saint - Germain will visit on December 11. This "week of heavyweight showdowns" with intensity surpassing that of the FIFA Club World Cup will be a crucial period for the team to prove that it can compete with Europe's top teams.

To prepare for this series of tough battles, head coach Valverde scheduled a recovery training session on Sunday, adjusting the intensity according to the players' fatigue levels, with those who had played more minutes undergoing lighter adjustments. The entire team will assemble on Monday and Tuesday to fully prepare for the first crucial match against Real Madrid. 

In terms of personnel, De Galarreta, who was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, will be eligible to return, which is an important addition to the midfield. However, Sanchet, who received a red card in the match against Barcelona, still has to serve his second game of suspension and will continue to be absent. 

Regarding the injured players, Nico Williams has been continuously undergoing rehabilitation training, with his condition improving day by day; while his brother, Iñaki Williams, is recovering more cautiously. Since suffering a muscle injury on October 22, he still needs to regain confidence through joint training. Due to the complexity of his injury, the club does not want to take any risks. In addition, Robert Navarro is having difficulty moving due to a sprained right ankle, and the physiotherapist is making every effort to help him recover. The team will face this crucial period that defines the season's direction with its current lineup.