Nico Williams and Beñat Prados declared day-to-day after Valencia clash at San Mamés

Athletic’s problem is not just that they lost 0-1 to Valencia at San Mamés. It’s that the defeat seems to have left two more bodies in the treatment room just as the schedule turns brutal. Nico Williams and Beñat Prados were both being treated as day-to-day after the match, which means Ernesto Valverde heads into the Espanyol trip with fresh uncertainty around two useful pieces of the team. ### What actually happened against Valencia? Athletic fell at home on Sunday, May 10, when Umar Sadiq scored in the 72nd minute for Valencia. It was a bad result on its own, but the shape of the game made it sting more — Athletic had more of the ball, created less than they needed, and never found the equalizer. ### Why are Nico Williams and Beñat Prados the names to watch? (athletic-club.eus) Because they affect two different pressure points. Nico changes the attack immediately — pace, dribbling, one-v-one threat, the ability to turn a flat possession spell into an actual chance. Prados is a different kind of miss. He gives Athletic legs and bite in midfield, and when the squad is already being stretched, losing one more reliable rotation option matters. (fotmob.com) The club’s latest news feed listed a medical report on May 11 tied to Nico, showing this was the next-day issue, not just match-night noise. ### Why does “day-to-day” matter so much? Because it sounds mild, but it usually means lineup decisions get pushed right up to the deadline. That is manageable in a normal week. It is not so manageable when the next league match is basically here already. Athletic are due at Espanyol on Wednesday, May 13, so there is very little runway for recovery, testing, or full training reintegration. (athletic-club.eus) ### Why is Nico the bigger tactical worry? Athletic can replace minutes. Replacing Nico’s specific threat is harder. He is still one of the team’s reference points in the final third, and his production over the last two seasons shows why opponents load attention toward his flank. When he is missing or limited, Athletic can look more predictable — less able to break games open from the wing. (rcdespanyol.com) ### And what about Prados? Prados matters because late in the season, midfield depth stops being a luxury and starts being survival gear. Even if he is not the headline name, he helps Valverde rotate intensity, cover duels, and keep structure when matches get stretched. A day-to-day tag is better than a long-term absence, obviously, but it still leaves Athletic guessing for the next one. (athletic-club.eus) ### How tight is the turnaround? Very. Espanyol host Athletic on Wednesday evening, May 13, in Matchday 36. So this is not a case where the staff can wait a week and reassess. They have to make a call almost immediately on whether either player can train, travel, or only make the bench. ### Why does this feel bigger than two knocks? (athletic-club.eus) Because Athletic are in the part of the season where every missing starter distorts the whole picture. One home loss is recoverable. One home loss plus fresh fitness doubts before the next match is how a manageable wobble turns into a real late-season slide. That is the catch here. The injuries are not confirmed as major, but the timing makes them heavy anyway. (rcdespanyol.com) ### Bottom line? Athletic did not just drop points to Valencia. They may also have lost some certainty. If Nico Williams and Beñat Prados are truly only day-to-day, the damage may be limited. But with Espanyol arriving on May 13, Athletic do not really have the luxury of waiting. (athletic-club.eus) (fotmob.com)