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Valencia will welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Mestalla for their La Liga clash on Saturday.
The hosts have had a disappointing campaign so far and are still in the hunt for their first home win of the season.
Athletic Club, meanwhile, are looking to extend their unbeaten run.
Read our Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao prediction, preview and betting tips below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao key stats
- Five of Athletic Bilbao's last six matches have gone below the 2.5-goal line.
- Valencia have conceded first in five of their last seven games.
- There were at least 11 corners in five of Athletic Club's last seven outings.
Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao preview: Can Los Che turn things around?
Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao — Tale of the Tape
| Valencia | vs | Athletic Bilbao |
|---|---|---|
| 19th | Position | 10th |
| 5 | Points | 8 |
| 6 | Goals For | 7 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 6 |
| 2 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
| 20th | Home / Away Rank | 13th |
*These figures were accurate at the time of publishing.
Valencia played out a 2-2 draw at Racing Santander last weekend, in Javier Aguirre's first game in charge.
Los Che are going through a rough patch, having won only one of their eight La Liga fixtures this season (D2, L5).
No team has conceded fewer goals than Athletic Bilbao in La Liga this season.
With only five points earned from a possible 24, the hosts are in the relegation zone in 19th place. They have lost three consecutive home games and are without a win in four matches at this stadium this season, failing to score in three of them.
Los Che remain without midfielders Sergi Canos and Diego Lopez, with both players nursing cruciate ligament injuries. Dimitri Foulquier is also unavailable because of a knee issue, while Luis Rioja is touch-and-go for the game this weekend.
On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao's clash with Rayo Vallecano last weekend was suspended due to disruptive fan protests and pitch disruptions at the Estadio de Vallecas, with an official reschedule date yet to be confirmed by La Liga.
Setting that abandoned fixture aside, the visitors are on a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Despite completing fewer games than any other team in the Spanish top flight (6), Athletic Bilbao remain comfortably in 10th place, with eight points earned from a possible 18.
Only two teams have been booked fewer times than Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish top flight.
Oihan Sancet is the only player confirmed out for the visitors as he continues his recovery from a knee injury, while Aymeric Laporte is down with illness and his availability for the Mestalla trip is questionable.
Recent clashes between these outfits have not been one-sided, as both teams have three wins apiece in the last six H2Hs.
Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao form guide & betting tips
| Valencia | vs | Athletic Bilbao |
|---|---|---|
L
L
W
L
D
|
La Liga Form |
L
W
W
D
D
|
| 4 | Points | 8 |
| 17th | Form Table | 6th |
| 5 | Goals For | 6 |
| 11 | Goals Against | 1 |
L
L
W
L
D
|
Form (All Comps) |
W
W
D
D
W
|
Whispers Predicts: Valencia 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Priced at 13/10 (2.30), Athletic Bilbao are considered favourites by the bookmakers ahead of this skirmish.
Both teams are on opposite sides in terms of recent form, and keeping in mind that Athletic Club won two of their last three visits to this stadium, we are leaning toward the visitors for the win.
Fewer than three goals were scored in five of Athletic Bilbao's last six outings and in five of the last six H2Hs, and this can be backed at 4/5 (1.80).
We also fancy Athletic Bilbao to win-to-nil at 27/10 (3.70). Valencia have lost their last three home games, failing to score in two of them.
> Under 2.5 total goals at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Probable
> BTTS – No at 19/20 (1.95) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result: Athletic Bilbao at 13/10 (2.30) | Likelihood: Probable
> Athletic Bilbao & BTTS – No at 27/10 (3.70) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct Score: 0-1 at 13/2 (7.50) | Likelihood: Outsider