Athletic player Inigo Lekue has suffered "a severe muscle injury in the proximal myotendinous junction of the right rectus femoris muscle", according to the Bilbao club on Saturday.
Lekue was injured last Sunday in Vallecas, in the second half of a league match in which he started and ended 0-0. While awaiting his progress, for which Athletic have not set a timetable, the "serious severity" of the injury seems to indicate that the Bilbao player will be out for longer than usual for muscle injuries.
For the moment, Lekue is a certain absentee for the match against FC Barcelona at San Mames, a match that will also be missed by the suspended Oihan Sancet and the injured Ander Herrara and Jon Morcillo.
It is also likely that first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon will not be available to face La Liga leaders and, if they are fit to play, first-choice full-backs Oscar de Marcos and Yuri Berchiche will be very limited.
March 10, 2023