Valencia vs Athletic Prediction
🔊 Can the "Bats" settle the score for their first-round defeat? Valencia still have a shot at securing a spot in European competitions. Their home clash with Athletic is pivotal this season. It's worth noting that the "Basques" have already accomplished their league objectives, making their final two matches mere formalities. Let's take a look at the bookmakers' early predictions: a win for the "Oranges" is at 2.2, while a victory for the "Lions" stands at 3.85.
Head-to-Head
📊 In the first round of the current La Liga season, Athletic edged out Valencia (1-0) at San Mamés. Beñat Prados was the lone goal scorer in that match. Overall, the "Bats" have managed to defeat the "Basques" only once in their last seven head-to-head encounters. That victory for Valencia came in their previous meeting at Mestalla in January 2024, where they secured a 1-0 win.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Valencia Team Overview
🟠 Valencia suffered a somewhat surprising defeat at "Mendizorroza" (0-1) in the last round. Notably, the "Bats" recorded an xG of just 0.61. After the match, the refereeing committee admitted that Gil Manzano made an error and the penalty awarded against Mamardashvili should not have been given. This revelation doesn't ease the burden for Carlos Corberan and his team, as securing a spot in European competitions is becoming increasingly challenging. Currently, the "Oranges" trail the top eight by 3 points. However, Valencia are particularly effective at "Mestalla," having accumulated 31 points from 18 games (the 8th best in the league).
Match Results: Valencia
Athletic Bilbao Team Overview
🔴 In the remaining rounds of La Liga, the Basques can only aim to solidify their league position and break into the top three. Interestingly, in their last five league matches, Athletic have conceded just one goal (the best record) and have added 10 points to their tally (5th best). It's crucial to note that the Lions' defensive line is the most effective in La Liga, allowing just 0.72 goals per match. The Bilbao side also perform admirably on the road, securing 28 points from 18 games (4th best).
Match Results: Athletic Bilbao
Latest news
Valencia
📣 After the match against Alaves (0-1), Carlos Corberan shared his thoughts: “It wasn't our best performance. We started very energetically in the first 15 minutes, but as the game progressed, our precision and effectiveness declined. It was a game with the most unforced errors. Still, we had the chance to equalize. A draw would have been a fair result. We have two games left, and Valencia are determined to collect as many points as possible.” When asked about the refereeing quality, Valencia's head coach stated: “As a coach, if I could change what happened through criticism, I would. But I need to focus on what I can control, which is changing the team's attacking approach to achieve better results.”
📢 Giorgi Mamardashvili also had his say: “I don’t understand why that was a penalty, and I never will. Even Alaves players told me it wasn’t a penalty. We have to keep going. We have two games left, and we need to fight until the end. This team will never stop battling.”
❌ Among Valencia’s unavailable players, Thierry Correia stands out. The Portuguese full-back is still recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture.
Athletic Bilbao
📣 Following their 2-0 victory over Getafe, which secured an early qualification for the Champions League, Ernesto Valverde addressed the press: "This is an incredible win for our team. We achieved what we set out to do. It's our dream, and we're very happy. Now the team will give everything to finish in the top three of the league. We will seize every opportunity. If you have the motivation, you must go all the way. We'll see how far we can go."
🔗 Qualifying for the Champions League is truly historic for the club. The Basques have only reached this prestigious European tournament for the sixth time in their history. The last time the Lions participated was 11 years ago.
📝 A notable transfer story in recent days is Athletic's interest in Jesús Areso. Reportedly, the Basques have offered the Osasuna player a five-year contract with improved financial terms. Previously, Areso turned down three contract extension offers from the Pamplona outfit.
❌ Injured players are gradually returning to Athletic's lineup. However, Inaki Williams (muscle injury) and Nico Williams (hip injury) remain doubtful for the upcoming match.
🟨 Yellow Card Prediction
Athletic have shown remarkable discipline this season, averaging just 1.7 yellow cards per match. In head-to-head clashes with the "Bats," the Bilbao side also maintains a lower average of bookings-2.4 compared to 2.9. Their high level of organization and excellent positional defense contribute to these statistics. Our pick: Valencia to win on yellow cards.
⚽️ Goal Prediction
In 6 out of Athletic's last 8 matches, no more than 2 goals were scored. Notably, head-to-head encounters between the "Bats" and "Basques" have been low-scoring, averaging 2.2 goals per game. Given Bilbao's outstanding defensive quality, their reliability against Valencia's underdeveloped attacking line is hardly in doubt. A reasonable bet is under 2.5 goals.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Let's examine each team's corner stats this season. Athletic show a positive trend: 5.2 corners earned versus 4 conceded. Valencia, however, do not follow suit, with a ratio of 5 earned to 5.1 conceded. In head-to-head matchups, the "Lions" also hold an edge in this department-5.6 to 4.3. We suggest the following outcome: Athletic to win on corners with a (0) handicap.
Editor's Prediction
Valencia need a win, but Athletic are a tough opponent to crack. The Bats have failed to defeat the Basques in nine of their last ten La Liga head-to-heads. Ernesto Valverde's side quickly bounced back after their painful exit from the Europa League, securing two clean-sheet victories. We don't believe they will falter at the Mestalla. Athletic will not lose is our main pick.
Betting Tips: Valencia - Athletic Bilbao
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Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
