THE COPA DEL REY OPENS UP THE BILBAO TRIPLEHEADER

It's often said that playing against the same team three times in a row in a tough mental task for both teams, since it's very difficult to beat the same opponent over and over again. However, fortune has wished for Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla to play a Round of 16 cup tie sandwiching their league game on matchday 19 in La Liga. As Athletic host the league match, they will have home advantage for two of the games, with Sevilla hosting the third and final duel in Nervión in a week's time.

Historically, Athletic have been a difficult side for Sevilla in knock-out tournaments, with Sevilla beating them only twice. Curiously, Sevilla ended up winning the respective title both times, the 1948 Copa del Rey and the 2016 Europa League. Given that the team will remain in Bilbao until Sunday's league match, Pablo Machín has brought 23 players with him, including Sevilla B's goalkeeper, Lucho García, and Maxime Gonalons, who continues his recovery and hopes to return to action as soon as possible.

Machín's men are hoping to beat Athletic in a knock-out round for only the third time in their history

Pablo Machín will have Franco Vázquez and Mercado back after suspension, although the former will be out for the first match through injury, joining Carriço who can't play either due to picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Atlético Madrid. The manager, who was asked once more about possible reinforcements in the transfer window, continues to wait on new arrivals to reinforce a squad which needs to keep competing at the highest level and is coming to the most testing part of the season.

The Basques are coming into this match full of optimism after Monday's win in Balaídos. The three points against Celta took Gaizka Garitano's men out of the relegation zone after five weeks in them and has freed them from a lot of the pressure that was weighing on the group. Athletic's main goal this season is obviously to stay up, but the cup is always important in Bilbao. In this way, this tie could be just what a fanbase and team in need of joy need despite the extra physical demands it places on the team.

Athletic have just won in Balaídos and got out of the relegation zone for the first time in five weeks

Therefore, it's expected that Garitano refreshes his starting eleven from that against Celta with some substitutes and players who usually start but couldn't through sanction, such as Yeray Álvarez and Raúl García. Their only injuries for the match are Iñigo Lekue and Mikel Rico, while Dani García is a doubt. The midfielder, as well as Williams, had to be substituted for muscle fatigue.