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Opposition lowdown: Athletic Club
Everything you need to know about the next visitors to the RCDE Stadium
RCD Espanyol are in action against Athletic Club at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday.
Entering a new era with Luis García’s first match as men’s first team coach, Espanyol will be vying for a return to winning ways in this fresh start. They welcome an Athletic side chasing Europe in the league, though coming off the back of a devastating Copa del Rey exit at home.
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Name: Athletic Club
Nickname: Los Leones (The Lions)
Manager: Ernesto Valverde
Stadium: San Mamés – 53,331 capacity
Last match: D 1-1 (L 1-2 agg.) vs Osasuna (Copa del Rey)
Current position: 7th
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The season so far
Athletic have once again been in the fight for European football this season, currently sitting seventh and seven points off the continental spots. Their Copa del Rey campaign also came to an end midweek, losing out to an 116th minute winner by visitors Osasuna to crash out at the semi-finals.
Standout player
Oihan Sancet continues his emergence as one of the Basque side’s most influential players, confirmed by the club handing him a new nine-year contract. It is easy to see why; the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has eight goals and has only missed one LaLiga match through suspension, as he establishes himself in the XI for the long term.
Last time at the RCDE Stadium
This will be Athletic’s first trip to the RCDE Stadium in a year and-a-half, when they played out a 1-1 draw last season. Raúl de Tomás opened the scoring for Espanyol in the first period, but an Iñaki Williams equaliser seven minutes after the restart left it honours even for both sides.
A reunion in the dugout
Of all the opponents García could have faced for his debut as mister, coming up against his own former manager is a unique way to get his reign underway.
García and Ernesto Valverde were together for two seasons at Espanyol, during which they reached the 2007 UEFA Cup Final with García in the starting XI. It will be a welcome reunion back at the RCDE Stadium for the former manager and the new man in the blanquiazul dugout.