Basque pelota blog in english – Dos paredes

Friday 22nd January, Irun

22:00 (CET) ARRETXE II – IBAI ZABALA v ARITZ LASA – MERINO 2nd Tier Pairs Championship

23:20 (CET) BERASALUZE VIII – BEGINO v XALA – ZUBIETA Pairs Championship

Saturday 23rd January, Pamplona

18:00 (CET) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – BEROIZ v OLAIZOLA II – MENDIZABAL II Pairs Championship

Sunday 24th January, Logrono

17:00 (CET) CAPELLAN – GONI III v APEZETXEA – EULATE

18:15 (CET) TITIN III – PASCUAL v BENGOETXEA – OTXANDORENA* Pairs Championship

*Inaki Otxandorena replaces Ruben Beloki, who has a knee injury. Beloki has been suffering from non-specific knee pain which has been diagnosed as a bone edema. He is expected to be out for two to three weeks, according to Asegarce.

This week’s other Pairs Championship match takes place on Monday 25th January at 17:30 in Tolosa, where OLAIZOLA I – PATXI RUIZ play GONZALEZ – LASKURAIN.

The pick of this round of matches in the Pairs Championship is undoubtedly Saturday’s encounter which pits Juan Martinez de Irujo against Aimar Olaizola. Matches between the two great forwards are always highly anticipated affairs, and many eyes will also be on young Mikel Beroiz, who made great strides last week, in his fight with Oier Mendizabal in defence. Pablo Berasaluze and Aritz Begino should start as favourites tonight in Irun, having run Irujo and Beroiz extremely close last week, while the focus in Logrono will be on the role of Inaki Otxandorena who stands in for the injured Ruben Beloki. Asier Olaizola and Patxi Ruiz will be buoyed by last week’s victory and have the potential to make life hard for Cuatro y Medio champion Sebastien Gonzalez, and Aritz Laskurain.

For live coverage, visit https://www.eitb.eus/television/etb-sat