Prediction: Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao

Valencia and Athletic Bilbao will both be looking to build momentum when they meet at Mestalla on Saturday evening in La Liga.

The hosts remain stuck in the relegation zone after a difficult opening to the season, while Athletic are also aiming to climb the table after an inconsistent start that has left them sitting in mid-table with games in hand.

Valencia

Valencia’s season has been a struggle so far, but there are signs that the situation may be beginning to improve.

Los Che collected just one point from their opening five league matches, a disastrous sequence that left them firmly anchored near the foot of the standings. However, recent results have been more encouraging, with four points taken from their last three outings.

A 1-0 victory away to Alaves delivered their first league win of the campaign, while a 1-1 draw against Racing Santander before the international break provided a respectable start to Javier Aguirre’s tenure as head coach.

The former Mexico manager will be hoping to use the international break as an opportunity to further implement his ideas and steer Valencia away from danger.

There is also reason for confidence in this fixture. Valencia won 1-0 when these sides last met in May and have claimed victory in two of the last three meetings. Overall, they narrowly lead the historic head-to-head record with 77 wins compared to Athletic’s 74.

Team News

In terms of team news, Sergi Canos, Diego Lopez and Umar Sadiq remain unavailable through injury. Luis Rioja and Dimitri Foulquier are also doubts.

Hugo Duro and Dani Raba are expected to lead the attack, while Javi Guerra and David Otorbi should feature prominently in midfield. Pepelu could return to his customary midfield role after previously being used in defence.

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao’s preparation for this match has been far from straightforward.

Their scheduled clash with Rayo Vallecano was abandoned after just 13 minutes due to crowd protests, meaning Edin Terzic’s side enter the weekend having not completed a competitive match since their goalless draw against Alaves in September.

The Lions have played only six league matches this season, winning two, drawing two and losing two. While that return leaves them in tenth position, they remain within touching distance of the European places and possess games in hand on many rivals.

There has been steady improvement since a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at the end of August. Athletic are unbeaten in their subsequent league matches and will be confident of continuing that run at Mestalla.

Team News

The visitors face several injury concerns. Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams and Unai Egiluz are unavailable, while Aymeric Laporte faces a late fitness test.

With Nico Williams sidelined, additional responsibility will fall on Inaki Williams, who is expected to lead the line. Alex Berenguer and Peio Canales should provide support in advanced areas.

Key Factors to Consider

• Valencia have taken four points from their last three league matches.
• Javier Aguirre remains unbeaten since taking charge.
• Athletic Bilbao have played only six league games this season.
• The Lions are unbeaten since their defeat to Barcelona in August.
• Valencia won the most recent meeting between the two clubs 1-0.
• Athletic are without key attacker Nico Williams through injury.

Conclusion

Valencia appear to be moving in the right direction under Aguirre and should benefit from home support at Mestalla, where the atmosphere is often a significant factor.

However, Athletic’s greater overall quality and their ability to remain competitive despite several absences cannot be ignored. At the same time, injuries to important attacking players may limit the visitors’ effectiveness in the final third.

With both sides still seeking consistency and neither carrying overwhelming momentum, this has the look of a tightly contested affair that could ultimately finish level.

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