Nico Williams and Inaki Williams have joined Oihan Sancet on the sidelines for Athletic Bilbao ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Manchester United.
Ernesto Valverde's Athletic face a mammoth task if they are to reach the Europa League final at their home stadium at San Mames, having lost 3-0 at home in the first leg.
In all major European competitions, only one side has ever won the first leg of a two-legged knockout tie away from home by three or more goals and failed to progress.
Maccabi Tel Aviv are the only team to do so, winning 4-1 at Olympiakos in the 2023-24 Europa Conference League last 16, then losing 6-1 at home after extra time in the second leg.
Athletic's hopes of replicating Olympiakos' fightback have now suffered a major blow, with their top three scorers from this season all absent from their travelling party.
𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) May 7, 2025
Ernesto Valverde has called up players for tomorrow's clash with @ManUtd at Old Trafford.
Travel details https://t.co/bUwbP2KT8o#MUFCAthletic #AthleticClub pic.twitter.com/jawQCRLAl7
Sancet, who has 17 goals in all competitions this campaign, missed the first leg through injury and has not recovered in time to travel to Manchester.
Nico Williams – one of the stars of Spain's Euro 2024 triumph – played 79 minutes in the first leg but has been dealing with a groin issue, and he missed their goalless draw with rivals Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday.
He has not been named in Athletic's 24-man squad for Thursday's second leg, with his brother Inaki Williams also left out after suffering from a hamstring issue.
Both Williams brothers have 11 goals apiece in all competitions this season, with Nico adding nine assists and Inaki recording seven.