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Valencia host Athletic Bilbao at Mestalla on September 20 in a LaLiga encounter that has all the makings of a tightly fought contest. Both sides enter the game with contrasting storylines—Valencia looking to build on recent momentum and Athletic aiming to consolidate their strong start to the season.
Valencia Seeking Consistency After Breakthrough Win
Carlos Corberán’s team arrive on the back of a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Getafe, a result that snapped their early-season struggles. Goals from Hugo Duro, Mouctar Diakhaby, and Arnaut Danjuma not only ended a frustrating winless run but also showcased the attacking edge that had been missing in previous matches.
With four points from their opening fixtures, Valencia currently sit mid-table, but the recent triumph suggests they may be turning a corner. Corberán’s tactical adjustments—sharpening defensive organization while giving greater freedom to the wide forwards—have added balance to a side eager to climb the standings.
Athletic Bilbao Riding High Despite Key Absence
Ernesto Valverde’s men travel to Valencia in fine form, sitting second in the table with nine points from their first four outings. Their most recent match ended in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Real Betis, with Marc Bartra and Aitor Paredes finding the net.
However, Bilbao will be forced to cope without rising star Nico Williams, who suffered an injury ahead of their Champions League opener against Arsenal. His absence removes a vital creative spark from the Basque side’s attack, placing more responsibility on Iñaki Williams and Oihan Sancet to generate chances. Defensively, Bilbao’s vulnerability has been exposed—they’ve conceded nine goals in their last six fixtures—an area Valencia will likely seek to exploit.
A Fixture Steeped in History
Athletic have enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings, winning three of the last five clashes, including a 1-0 victory at Mestalla in May. Yet the dynamics appear to be shifting. Valencia’s home advantage, combined with their newfound attacking rhythm, could tilt the balance in their favor this time.
The midfield duel promises to be decisive, with Javi Guerra and André Almeida central to Valencia’s efforts to disrupt Bilbao’s build-up play. For Valverde’s men, maintaining compactness and discipline will be essential if they are to withstand Los Che’s quick transitions.
Prediction
Given both teams’ form, this matchup has the potential to be closely contested. Valencia’s pressing game and Danjuma’s flair in attack may prove decisive against an Athletic side missing Nico Williams. Still, Bilbao’s resilience and attacking threats cannot be overlooked.
With both sides tending to feature in low-scoring affairs—12 of Athletic’s last 14 away games and six of Valencia’s last eight home fixtures finishing under 2.5 goals—this encounter may well follow the same pattern.
Prediction: Valencia 0 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
