Athletic Bilbao's Spanish coach Ernesto Valverde speaks with Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward #10 Nico Williams during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 3 football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Qarabagh at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on October 22, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)placeholder image
Athletic Bilbao's Spanish coach Ernesto Valverde speaks with Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward #10 Nico Williams during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 3 football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Qarabagh at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on October 22, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP) | AFP via Getty Images
Athletic Bilbao have named a 23-man squad for their Champions League clash away to Newcastle United.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have started their La Liga campaign in a similar way to Newcastle have begun their Premier League season, currently sitting 11th in the table with 14 points from 11 matches.
The Magpies, meanwhile, are 13th, following their dismal 3-1 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday.
Athletic star Nico Williams ruled out v Newcastle United
Athletic opened up the league season with three straight wins but have won just once since, with their most crushing defeat coming against Basque rivals Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Not only was the defeat bruising in terms of losing to a local rival, but it has also left Valverde without three key players for their visit to St James’ Park.
The former Barcelona boss is without left-back Yuri Berchiche and midfielder Oihan Sancet but the absence that will grab the headlines is Euro 2024 star Williams.
English football fans will best remember Williams for scoring in the Euro 2024 final and forming one half of Spain’s frightening wide attack.
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Williams occupied the left flank, with Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal cutting in from the right. Ironically, a similar injury to one Yamal suffered in September has ruled him out against Newcastle.
A Bilbao statement confirmed: “The players have not been included in the squad for tomorrow's match
“Players Yuri Berchiche, Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet will not travel to Newcastle with the rest of the squad and will miss the match that Athletic will play tomorrow against Newcastle at St James' Park stadium.
“Yuri Berchiche suffers an overload in the triceps surae of his right leg. Nico Williams suffers from pubalgia. Oihan Sancet suffers a mild-to-moderate injury to the biceps femoris muscle of his left leg.
“The players' progress remains to be seen.”
Athletic Bilbao confirm 23-man squad for Newcastle United clash
In the absence of the trio, Bilbao have announced a 23-man squad list for their trip to Tyneside.
The La Liga outfit sit 21st in the Champions League group phase after bouncing back from opening defeats to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund to beat Qarabag last time out.
Athletic Bilbao squad in full: Unai Simón, Padilla, Santos, Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Vesga, Berenguer, Guruzeta, Areso, Laporte, I. Lekue, Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar, Adama, Unai G., Nico Serrano, Navarro, Rego, Hierro, Ibon Sánchez, Izagirre and Selton.
Newcastle United without two key players v Athletic Bilbao
In addition to the Wissa and Livramento, Howe is also unable to name Jamaal Lascelles, Harrison Ashby, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie in his matchday squad versus Bilbao.
This is because the quartet weren’t named on the 21-man ‘List A’ squad Newcastle submitted to UEFA ahead of the competition getting underway.
UEFA rules allow clubs to submit a ‘List A’ of up to 25 players, if they include four ‘club-trained’ players. But in this instance, the Magpies could only name a squad of 21 due to the lack of club-trained players.
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