Team Form & Recent Performances

Valencia

• 2025/26 Record: 1W, 1D, 2L in La Liga (4 points, 15th); 2024/25 La Liga 12th with 9W, 10D, 15L

• Latest Result: Lost 6-0 at Barcelona (September 14, 2025), drew 1-1 vs. Real Sociedad (August 17, 2025)

• Home Form: 0W, 1D, 0L in 1 La Liga home game (1 goal scored, 1 conceded); 5W, 5D, 6L in 16 home games in 2024/25 (16 goals scored, 20 conceded)

Valencia are struggling, sitting 15th after a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Barcelona, failing to score and conceding three in each half, per. Their 1-1 draw vs. Real Sociedad showed some fight, but overall form is poor (1W, 1D, 2L), averaging 0.75 goals scored and 2.25 conceded per game, per. At Mestalla, they're unbeaten in their sole home game this season, but last season's home record was mediocre, per. Over their last five games (1W, 1D, 3L), they've scored 3 goals and conceded 10, per. No specific injuries mentioned, but squad depth is tested, per. Their 48% possession and 3.5 shots on target per game reflect limited threat, per.

Athletic Bilbao

• 2025/26 Record: 3W, 0D, 1L in La Liga (9 points, 4th); 2024/25 La Liga 5th with 18W, 8D, 8L

• Latest Result: Lost 2-0 at Arsenal (Champions League, September 17, 2025), won 2-1 vs. Real Betis (September 14, 2025)

• Away Form: 1W, 0D, 0L in 1 La Liga away game (2 goals scored, 1 conceded); 9W, 4D, 4L in 17 away games in 2024/25 (28 goals scored, 15 conceded)

Athletic Bilbao are in strong contention, sitting 4th despite a 2-0 Champions League loss to Arsenal, where they had 45% possession but failed to convert chances, per. Their 2-1 win over Real Betis highlighted resilience, per. Away form is solid, winning their only league away game this season, averaging 1.65 goals scored and 0.88 conceded last season, per. Over their last five games (3W, 0D, 2L), they've scored 8 goals and conceded 5, per. Injuries to Yuri Berchiche (muscle) and doubts over Nico Williams (fatigue) could impact, per. Their 55% possession and 4.8 shots on target per game show attacking prowess, per.

Head-to-Head Stats & Historical Context

• Overall Record: Valencia lead with 27 wins to Athletic’s 21, 21 draws in 69 matches, per

• Recent Meeting: May 18, 2025—Valencia 0-1 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)

• Key Trend: Athletic won 4 of the last 7 H2Hs; 5 of 7 had under 2.5 goals, averaging 1.71 goals per game; Valencia failed to score in their last two H2Hs, per

Athletic's 1-0 win in May 2025 continued their recent dominance, with Valencia failing to score in both 2024/25 league meetings, per. Valencia's last home win was 1-0 in January 2024, per. Athletic have won 3 of their last 6 away H2Hs at Mestalla, per. Low-scoring trend persists, with under 2.5 goals in 5 of last 7, per.

Key Players to Watch

Valencia

• Hugo Duro (FWD): 2 goals in La Liga. Needs to end drought vs. Athletic, per

• André Almeida (MID): 1 goal, 2 assists in La Liga. Creative spark, per

• Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK): 2 clean sheets in La Liga, 70% save rate. Key stopper, per

Athletic Bilbao

• Oihan Sancet (FWD): 3 goals in La Liga. Lethal in big games, per

• Alex Berenguer (FWD): 2 goals, 1 assist in La Liga. Threat on the wing, per

• Unai Simón (GK): 3 clean sheets in La Liga, 72% save rate. Solid at back, per

Tactical Insights & Match Dynamics

Valencia’s 4-4-2, under Carlos Corberán, relies on Duro’s hold-up and Almeida’s creativity, averaging 48% possession and 3.5 shots on target per game, per. They’ll target Athletic’s occasional high line with quick counters, but their 2.25 conceded per game is exploitable, per. Athletic’s 4-2-3-1, led by Ernesto Valverde, uses Sancet and Berenguer’s flair, with Dani García and Beñat Prados in midfield, averaging 55% possession and 4.8 shots on target, per. Injuries force reliance on Ander Herrera, exploiting Valencia’s defense, but their European fatigue could show, per. Mestalla’s 49,000 fans will roar for Valencia, per. Web buzz favors Athletic at 2.45 odds, with under 2.5 at 1.57, citing H2H and form, per.