Prediction: Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 6/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

Athletic Bilbao, after taking just one point from their first two matches, will be eager to secure their first win of the season when they host Valencia at San Mames on Wednesday.

The visitors have done even worse, having started their La Liga campaign with back-to-back defeats. With neither side to happy at the moment and probably motivated to do better, the match should be an interesting one.

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao entered the new season riding the momentum of a successful 2023/24 campaign, where they secured a fifth-place finish in La Liga and ended a 40-year drought by winning the Copa del Rey. With high hopes of challenging for Champions League qualification this term, Los Leones have experienced a somewhat underwhelming start, which may temper those ambitions.

Their season opener saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe, followed by a narrow 2-1 defeat against Barcelona at Montjuic on Saturday. Oihan Sancet converted a first-half penalty, scoring for the second consecutive game to cancel out Lamine Yamal’s opener. However, Robert Lewandowski’s 75th-minute goal condemned Athletic to defeat, extending their winless run against Barcelona in La Liga to 10 matches (D2, L8).

Despite the setback, Athletic can take confidence from their impressive home record at San Mames, where they have gone unbeaten in their last 19 La Liga games, a run stretching back to August 2023 when they lost to Real Madrid.

Team News

Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde will have to work around some key absences for Wednesday’s clash with Valencia. Goalkeeper Unai Simon, defender Aitor Paredes, and midfielder Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta remain unavailable due to injury.

Adding to Valverde’s concerns, Nico Williams missed Monday’s training session after suffering a muscular issue during the Barcelona match, casting doubt on his availability for the midweek fixture.

However, there is some positive news for Athletic, as Alvaro Djalo has made progress in his injury recovery and could be included in the matchday squad. Also, goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, who recently returned from injury and was on the bench against Barcelona, is in contention to make his first appearance of the season.

Valencia

After facing the prospect of being involved in the relegation battle in the 2023/24 season, Valencia managed to raise their game and secure a respectable ninth-place finish in Ruben Baraja’s debut campaign as head coach. Despite the overall positive outcome, they faltered toward the end of the season, earning just two points from their final seven matches.

Unfortunately for Los Che, that poor form has carried over into the new campaign. Valencia have begun the 2024/25 season with back-to-back defeats, despite scoring first in both games. They narrowly lost 2-1 to Barcelona at home and then suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Celta Vigo last Friday.

Now winless in their last nine La Liga games, Valencia will be desperate to break their drought and secure their first league victory since mid-April when they travel to San Mames.

Team News

Jose Gaya, Mouctar Diakhaby, Jaume Domenech, Fran Perez, and Sergi Canos are all sidelined through injury.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to complete a permanent transfer to Liverpool, but Georgia international will immediately return to Valencia on loan, allowing him to retain his spot in goal for Wednesday’s match at San Mames.

Luis Rioja, who recently joined from Alaves, made his debut as a substitute in the loss to Celta Vigo, and the forward may now be in line for his first start under Baraja.

Conclusion

Obviously disappointed with their results in the first two games, Bilbao are extremely formidable at San Mames, and Valencia, on current form, will have a hard time trying to stop them.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 6/10

Bookmaker: 888sport