MADRID, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez looks set to miss next Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Mallorca after suffering a groin injury in his side's 2-0 defeat away to Real Madrid on Sunday.
Yeray had to leave the pitch and was replaced by Dani Vivian in the 24th minute, with the club releasing a medical report on Monday confirming an injury to the "long abductor muscle in his left leg."
Although Athletic said the injury was "pending evolution," it seems almost impossible for the 29-year-old defender to recover in time for Saturday's game as the Basque side attempts to win the cup for the first time since 1984.
Yeray, who had overcome two cancer operations to continue his career, has been plagued with injuries this season, having a groin operation in October, which saw him miss almost four months of competition, although he had been in good form in the past two months.
Sunday's game saw Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde try to protect players likely to start against Mallorca, with Spain international winger Nico Williams left in Bilbao, while his brother Inaki and defender Aitor Paredes were the only likely starters in the cup final who played all 90 minutes, along with goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. ■
