Valencia-Athletic Bilbao is a match valid for the 21st day of La Liga and is played Saturday at 6:30pm: TV, lineups and predictions
Yes, the Copa del Rey is always a domestic cup so not everyone thinks about it with the eagerness it takes to try to get to the bottom. But this one’s on the line no one wants to lose and Valencia’s home loss to Celta Vigo unleashed the fans, who lashed out at everyone after the Mestalla thrashing.
Heated weather then for the hosts, who host perhaps what is the most in-form team in the entire Spanish league: Valverde’s Bilbao have not lost since the tenth day of the championship, it was October, and they were playing against Barcelona. Since then, the Basques, have never tasted the bitter taste of a fall, so much so that they are on course for what would be an important qualification to the next Champions League. In all this, Betis, also earned access to the quarterfinals of that King’s Cup that hurt Valencia so much. No, there was no worse opponent for the hosts to cross.
So what? Then watch out for Athletic’s outside shot: that looks like a perfect machine oiled to motor. There’s one thing, though: no more missteps are allowed at home to Valencia so Baraja’s men will sell their skins dearly.
The prediction
Athletic Bilbao favored. But inside the Mestalla things will not be easy. Much more likely then a draw may come out, despite everything.
The probable lineups of Valencia-Athletic Bilbao
VALENCIA (4-4-2): Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Mosquera, Paulista, Gaya; Perez, Guillamon, Pepelu, Canos; Duro, D Lopez.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (4-2-3-1): Simon; Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Ruiz de Galarreta, Vesga; Berenguer, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
