Ath Bilbao vs Valladolid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-02-22 13:00.
[p]While Athletic Club boast the longest unbeaten run of any La Liga side at 15 matches (W8, D7), a return of three draws from their last four outings has seen their cushion inside the top four diminished. The Lions sit four points clear of prime chasers Villarreal as they look to end an 11-year absence from the UEFA Champions League, and a meeting with Real Valladolid should help them at least preserve that gap.[/p]
[p]Athletic are unbeaten in nine top-flight H2Hs on home soil at San MamĂ©s (W6, D3), while theyâve scored in 19 of their last 20 meetings with Valladolid in La Liga at any venue. Theyâll start as big favourites here as only the two Madrid clubs have earned more than their 25 home points pre-round, with four of their last five matches on home turf seeing Ernesto Valverdeâs men keep a clean sheet.[/p]
[p]Another shutout could well be on the cards given that Valladolid are the divisionâs lowest scorers, netting just 15 times in their 24 matches so far (W4, D3, L17). Unsurprisingly, they sit at the foot of the La Liga table having lost five successive matches in the competition, a fate they last suffered in May 2023 when they went on to be relegated![/p]
[p]A heavy 4-0 defeat to Sevilla last time out proved to be the final straw for manager Diego Cocca, who was sacked with his side eight points adrift of safety. Cocca lasted just eight games and managed just one victory, leaving interim boss Ălvaro Rubio – who is set to remain in the post until seasonâs end – tasked with pulling off the great escape to keep them in La Liga.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Athleticâs Ălex Berenguer has assisted his teamâs second goal in their last two home games, and has lost just once in six previous H2Hs (W3, D2). Visiting goalkeeper Karl Hein will aim to thwart him, yet heâs conceded an average of three goals per game across Valladolidâs five-match losing streak, despite making 13 saves in that time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Valladolid are the only team in Europeâs top-five leagues who are yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of a league game this season.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]