MADRID, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Problems continue to pile up for Athletic Club ahead of a must-win Champions League match against Atalanta on Wednesday, with the club confirming that striker and captain Inaki Williams has suffered a muscle injury.
"Inaki Williams had to withdraw from training on Sunday, after suffering a mild to moderate injury to the triceps surae muscle of his left leg," read an Athletic statement on Monday.
The club did not give a return date, but the injury is expected to sideline the elder of the Williams brothers for at least two weeks and possibly up to a month.
Williams will miss Wednesday's trip to Bergamo, a game Athletic must win to keep its hopes of reaching the playoffs alive. He is also set to miss next weekend's La Liga visit to Sevilla, the following week's Champions League home match against Sporting CP, and the Basque derby at home to Real Sociedad.
The setback adds to an already lengthy injury list that has tested coach Ernesto Valverde throughout the season, with Aymeric Laporte, Unai Egiluz, Benat Prados, Nico Serrano, Maroan Sannadi and Mikel Vesga all sidelined.
Striker Gorka Guruzeta and defender Inigo Lekue are also suspended for next weekend after being sent off in Athletic's controversial 3-2 loss at Mallorca on Saturday. ■
