Athletic Bilbao Squad Named for Spanish Supercup 1st Leg

It's Supercup day! Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao begin their quest for the title of super-champions of Spain this Friday, when the two clash at San Mamés, and Los Leones already have their squad for the game.

Coach Ernesto Valverde had to dig deep and use a lot of youngsters to form his squad due to injuries to very important players. Midfielders Ander Iturraspe and Mikel Rico, alongside strikers Iñaki Williams and Iker Muniain, all four key pieces of the team's campaign last season, are all missing the game due to various injuries.

Having to rotate his squad to find a bench, Valverde selected these 18 players:

Goalkeepers: 1. Gorka Iraizoz, 13. Iago Herrerín

Defenders: 2. Eneko Bóveda, 3. Gorka Elustondo, 4. Aymeric Laporte, 16. Xabier Etxeita, 24. Mikel Balenziaga, 30. Iñigo Lekue

Midfielders: 5. Javier Eraso, 6. Mikel San José, 7. Beñat, 10. De Marcos, 14. Markel Susaeta, 18. Carlos Gurpegi, 23. Ager Aketxe

Forwards: 9. Kike Sola, 20. Aritz Aduriz, 25. Sabin

Predicted Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Iraizoz; De Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; San José, Gurpegi; Susaeta, Beñat, Sabin; Aduriz

Bench: Herrerín; Bóveda, Elustondo, Lekue, Eraso, Aketxe, Kike Sola