Alarm at Athletic!: Nico Williams, doubtful for the semifinal against Barça

Nico Williams set off all the alarms at Athletic Club this Tuesday. The star of the 'lions' missed Tuesday's training for precautionary reasons and is doubtful for the match on Wednesday against FC Barcelona, corresponding to the semifinals of the Supercopa de España (20:00 CEST). According to the official report from Athletic, the '11' "suffers a bruise in his left ankle and is pending evolution" for the match in Jeddah.

Initially, Ernesto Valverde hopes to have the 22-year-old forward available, although it is unlikely he will risk putting him in the starting eleven. In case of a tie after 90 minutes, the match will go to extra time, a scenario both clubs experienced last season in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, which invites to reinforce precautions. The same is happening at Can Barça with Lamine Yamal, who will return in Arabia after the injury to his right ankle suffered against Leganés.

Nico Williams was the 'executioner' of Barça in the last elimination against Athletic

In the last elimination between the culés and the Basques, the 'albirrojos' took the victory (4-2) thanks to two goals in extra time, one of them scored by Nico. The player from Pamplona has 2 goals and 5 assists in 24 matches this season (1,683 minutes), having missed a total of four matches due to muscle problems. On Saturday, the younger Williams played 60 minutes against Logroñés, a match that the 'lions' could only resolve through penalties (0-0, 3-4 p.).

In December, the Basque winger already had a scare in a match against Fenerbahce (in the Europa League) where he was forced to request a substitution in the 38th minute due to discomfort in his right knee while taking a long-range shot. However, he was able to be in the XI against Alavés and Osasuna, playing 78 and 89 minutes in both matches.