MADRID, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Sociedad will make their home debuts in the Europa League on Thursday after starting their campaigns with creditable draws away from home.
Athletic entertain Dutch side AZ Alkmaar after a 1-1 draw away to Roma last week in their return to European competition after six years, while Real Sociedad took the same result in Nice.
Real Sociedad were able to build on their European performance to then take their first home win of the season against Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, and they now face Belgian side Anderlecht, who kicked off their European campaign with a 2-1 victory against Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros.
The good news for Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil is that the club's treatment room has emptied over the past few days, and the only two players unavailable on Thursday are winger Arsen Zakharyan and right back Hamari Traore, who will miss the season with a knee problem.
Icelandic striker Orri Oskarsson scored his first two goals since joining the club this summer against Valencia and will be handful for the Anderlecht defense, but their key player remains Japanese winger Take Kubo.
Athletic also have good news on the injury front, with Oihan Sancet and Ander Herrera returning to full training after missing the 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla at the weekend.
The return of Sancet, who is top scorer with three goals this season, would give Athletic an important link between midfield and attack, while Herrera offers extra control as a second-half substitute.
Midfielder Benat Prados is still in doubt with a muscle problem, while coach Ernesto Valverde, who has been named as Manager of the Month for September in Spain, will continue with his squad rotations, with Gorka Guruzeta, Yuri, and Dani Vivian all back in the starting 11. ■
