Valencia vs Ath Bilbao prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-09-19 19:00.
[p]Valencia will be hoping to put their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona quickly behind them when they host Athletic Club this Saturday.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]That humbling defeat was Valencia’s third loss by at least five goals to Barça in 2025 alone, but Carlos Corberán’s men can immediately forget about that and stay confident knowing they have at least started their La Liga season positively at home, drawing 1-1 with Real Sociedad before beating Getafe 3-0. Since Corberán took over last December, Los Ches have averaged exactly two points per league game at the Mestalla (26 points – W8, D2, L3) – an enormous improvement on the previous corresponding 13-match period (W2, D5, L6).[/p]
[p]Athletic were unbeaten this season up until last Saturday, when they lost 1-0 at home to fellow Basque outfit AlavĂ©s, a result which was followed by a 2-0 defeat in their UEFA Champions League opener against Arsenal. They shouldn’t be too despondent though, as they go into this weekend in La Liga just three points adrift of leaders Real Madrid and have won their last three away games, their best such run in the division since April 2023. For that they can thank an excellent defensive unit which has ensured Athletic haven’t conceded more than once in any of their last nine away league matches.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Athletic’s previously mentioned three-match winning run away from home includes beating Valencia 1-0 in May, and they have lost just one of the last eight H2Hs (W5, D2), claiming victory on three of their last four visits to the Mestalla.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Only two of Valencia’s last eight games have seen both teams score. [/p]
[p]None of Valencia’s last six goals have been scored earlier than the 25th minute.[/p]
[p]Five of Athletic’s last six league games have been decided by a single-goal margin. [/p]
[p]Only one of Athletic’s last 11 league matches at any venue featured more than three goals.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Hugo Duro was Valencia’s most recent scorer in this fixture in January 2024 and ended a five-game goal drought immediately before the latest international break, meaning that he has now been on the winning side in five of his last six scoring appearances (L1). Aitor Paredes got Athletic’s winner against Real Betis last month, with four of his last five scoring appearances having seen both teams find the net. [/p]
[p]Valencia do not seem to have any absentees from their squad, while Athletic’s Unai GĂłmez is a doubt after going off with a facial injury against Arsenal. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]The visitors haven’t conceded before half-time so far this season, so backing an Athletic Club first-half clean sheet here seems a sensible bet. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]