Zubieta’s fitness check: her return to Lezama is very much in doubt

The Athletic host Atlético this Sunday at Lezama in a match with extra spice due to cross-paths between both the coaching staff and the players involved. Víctor Martín, now in charge of the rojiblancas, previously led Atlético during a season and a half, a stint that ended in mid last campaign, as Mundo Deportivo notes.

Zubieta’s injury setback

The key storyline, though, is Maite Zubieta. The midfielder has suffered a low-grade muscle issue in the right thigh’s rectus femoris, and Mundo Deportivo reports that she was already ruled out last Saturday. With that, her return to Lezama is described as being very much in doubt for the Athletic-Atlético clash.

A reunion with a question mark

Before the injury, Zubieta had started the season strongly, featuring as a starter in the first three league matchdays. Her Athletic spell ended in June after five seasons and 103 official appearances, leaving once her deal expired and declining a renewal offer from the club, a situation the same outlet links to Nerea Nevado as well.

Mundo Deportivo also recalls that both players missed the squad for the last Liga F game at Lezama against Alhama. Back then, then-coach Javi Lerga explained it with: “Son decisiones de club”.

Form heading into the game

On the standings side, Atlético have played four matchdays and, according to Mundo Deportivo, have taken two away defeats (to Real Madrid and Barcelona) while balancing them with narrow wins against Alavés and Logroño. Athletic arrive with 7 points, after a strong start with two wins, an end-of-game draw at Lezama against Espanyol, and their first defeat in the Eibar derby, the outlet adds.