Valencia vs Ath Bilbao prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-01-19 17:30.
Things are going swimmingly for Valencia right now, as they followed up last month’s battling 1-1 draw with Barcelona by securing three straight La Liga wins for the first time this season. That run saw them close the gap on the top six to just three points, with European football for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign now looking like a realistic target again. The wind was knocked out of their sails a little in midweek though, when they suffered a surprise 3-1 home Copa del Rey defeat to lowly Celta Vigo.
Rubén Baraja’s side will aim to bounce back here against a Champions League-chasing opponent in Athletic Bilbao, a game which will no doubt be a daunting prospect for the hosts who haven’t got the better of their opponents in any of the last five competitive H2H meetings (D2, L3). Often those games treated the neutral, with each of the last three producing goals from both sides, a feat replicated in five of Valencia’s last six matches.
It’s not just H2H history but also recent form that makes the away side favourites to come out on top here. Athletic downed AlavĂ©s 2-0 in cup action this midweek to extend their impressive winning run to six straight matches, while you’d have to go back 15 games for the last time they suffered defeat – a slender 1-0 loss to Barcelona back in October.
Athletic sit in third spot and tied on 41 points with the Catalan giants, so the away side can hardly afford to lose momentum here. This could prove to be a poignant test for the Lions, who have won four La Liga away games this season, but all to sides starting this round in the bottom half, while they remain winless on the road in league games against current top-ten teams (D1, L2).
Players to watch: In midweek, Valencia’s Pepelu netted his fourth strike across his last five home appearances, with each coming from the penalty spot. Athletic’s Asier Villalibre is another in red-hot form, scoring four goals across his last three appearances, with three coming before half-time.
Hot streak: Each of Valencia’s last four matches have produced a goal inside the opening 15 minutes.