Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s La Liga clash between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After taking one point from their first two matches, Athletic Bilbao will attempt to claim their first win of the season when they welcome Valencia to San Mames on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Los Che are still waiting to get on the board after beginning their La Liga campaign with consecutive defeats.
Match preview
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Athletic came into the new season off the back of a successful 2023-24 campaign where they achieved a fifth-place finish and ended a 40-year wait for Copa del Rey.
After experiencing success last term, Los Leones are viewed as a potential contender to challenge for Champions League qualification, but those hopes may be slightly tempered by an underwhelming start to the season.
The Basque side were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe in their opening match of the season, before they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat in Saturday’s away clash with Barcelona.
Oihan Sancet netted a first-half penalty to score in a second straight game and cancel out Lamine Yamal‘s opener, but Robert Lewandowski‘s 75th-minute effort ultimately left Athletic with nothing to show for their efforts, with the resulting extending their winless run in head-to-head league meetings to 10 matches (D2, L8).
After falling short at Montjuic, Athletic will now return to the home comforts of San Mames, where they have avoided defeat in each of their 19 La Liga outings since losing 2-0 to Real Madrid in August 2023.
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After being involved in a relegation battle in 2023-24, Valencia would have been pleased to finish in ninth place in Ruben Baraja‘s first season in charge.
While they would have been satisfied with their efforts last season, Los Che did experience a disappointing end to the campaign, mustering just two points from their final seven matches.
Unfortunately for Valencia, that poor form has carried into the new season, having begun the campaign with consecutive defeats despite taking the lead in both matches.
They fell to a narrow 2-1 loss in their home meeting with Barcelona, before they suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat in Friday’s away game against Celta, leaving them as one of only two teams that are yet to pick up a point in La Liga this season.
Having failed to win any of their last nine La Liga matches, Los Che will be looking to claim their first league win since April 15 when they travel to San Mames on Wednesday.
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:
Valencia La Liga form:
Team News
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Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde is still unable to call upon the services of Unai Simon, Aitor Paredes and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta.
Nico Williams sat out Monday’s training session after picking up a muscular issue in the defeat to Barcelona, making the Spain international a doubt for the midweek home fixture.
In positive news, Alvaro Djalo has stepped up his injury recovery and could feature as part of Wednesday’s matchday squad.
Goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala is in contention to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury and featuring on the bench over the weekend.
As for the visitors, they are still having to cope without Jose Gaya, Mouctar Diakhaby, Jaume Domenech, Fran Perez and Sergi Canos.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to complete a permanent transfer to Liverpool, but the goalkeeper will be immediately loaned back to Valencia, ensuring he will be able to retain his place for Wednesday’s contest.
Luis Rioja, who recently arrived from Alaves, made his debut as a substitute in Friday’s defeat to Celta, and the attacker could be presented with the chance to make his first Valencia start.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; Gorosabel; Yeray, Vivian, Berchiche; Vesga, Prados Diaz; I Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Guruzeta
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Vazquez; Lopez, Guillamon, Pepelu, Rioja; Mir, Duro
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Valencia
Athletic would have been disappointed to take just one point from their first two matches, but they are usually a force to be reckoned with at San Mames, and we think they will make full use of home advantage to condemn Valencia to a narrow defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.