Athletic Club vs Celta began with two lineup calls that sharpened the stakes at San Mamés. Yuri Berchiche returned to Athletic’s starting XI, and Williot Swedberg got the nod for Celta in Jornada 37 at 19.00 hours.
Ernesto Valverde made seven changes after the loss in Cornellà, with Athletic closing its last home match of the season. Celta arrived trying to protect sixth place and keep its European path alive.
Valverde changes seven
Athletic’s lineup was Unai Simón, Gorosabel, Yeray Álvarez, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche, Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta, Iñaki Williams, Unia Gómez, Álex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta. The return of Berchiche stood out after he was left out of the trip to Catalonia.
Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet were unavailable because of muscle injuries. Daniel Vivian also did not figure after he came off at halftime against Espanyol with a severe ankle sprain, while Unai Egiluz suffered his second anterior cruciate ligament tear of the season in his right knee.
Celta name Swedberg
Celta’s starting XI was Andrei Radu, Javi Rodríguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso, Javi Rueda, Ilaix Moriba, Fer López, Sergio Carreira, Ferran Jutglà, Borja Iglesias and Williot Swedberg. Claudio Giráldez had recovered Matías Vecino and Ilaix Moriba, and Swedberg’s selection added another change to a side that needed at least a draw to keep Athletic from moving past it in the race back to Europe.
The caution list was long on both sides. Athletic had seven players one booking away from suspension: Jauregizar, Yuri Berchiche, Galarreta, Oihan Sancet, Berenguer, Paredes and Guruzeta. Celta had four: Aspas, Jutglá, Mingueza and Yoel Lago.
San Mamés and Europe
Iñaki Williams set the tone before kickoff by asking for “perdón a la afición,” then saying “aún se puede creer en Europa” and “la afición es libre de expresar su opinión.” Athletic needed a strong finish in front of its own crowd, while Celta had to keep sixth place intact to stay on track for a return to Europe.
Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos was assigned to referee the match at San Mamés. With Athletic closing at home and Celta trying to protect its position, the final Jornada 37 lineup sheet already carried the weight of the table.
