The losses of Iñigo Martínez and Yeray open the door to Nuñez

The one from Repelega and Vivian are the only two specific central defenders that Marcelino has ahead of Sunday’s match against Elche

Nuñez, in the center of the image, puts on his bib during today’s training session in Lezama

Juan Echeverria / Collaborators

The losses of Iñigo Martínez and Yeray open the door to Nuñez

Iñigo Martínez will also drop out against Elche. Athletic’s left-handed center-back still hasn’t recovered from the muscle problem that forced him to be substituted during the match against Levante in San Mamés on March 7. The medical report at that time affected an overload in the hamstring muscles of his right leg, something that did not seem to have much significance but that has prevented him from rejoining the group since then.

The absence due to injury of the Atletico international central defender overlaps in time with that of the suspended Yeray. Marcelino, in such a situation, only has the services of Vivian and Nuñez to practice in that demarcation against the Elche team. Another option is to relocate the veteran Balenziaga from the left-back to the rear, something that already happened during the visit of the lions to Mallorca. Since that day, February 14, Nuñez has not had minutes again.

The other player ruled out for Elche’s visit to Bilbao is Lekue. The ‘rojiblanco’ winger suffered a muscle injury to the rectus femoris of his right thigh a week ago.