Fourth in the table with nine points after four games, Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao, who are playing in the Champions League and fell to Arsenal in midweek, will be desperate to get back on track in La Liga after last week’s home defeat to Alaves.
Valencia, on the other hand, would like to forget the 6-0 defeat against Barcelona, not least because the hosts, after a rather complicated season last year, would also like to try to get some satisfaction. Something that hasn’t happened for years. Let’s be clear: neither team is having a great time and both would like to bounce back. To do so, they need to win or at least score. And that’s where the turnaround will happen.
The last three meetings between Valencia and Bilbao have always ended 1-0. Few thrills and a lot of tension. That won’t be the case on Saturday night, partly because of the statistics from the first few games, which show us one thing: these are two teams that think more about attacking than defending, and when they do defend – see the result in Barcelona – they don’t do it very well.
Odds comparison
A Bilbao win is priced at 2.50 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 2.45 on Snai. A GOAL, on the other hand, is priced at 1.95 on Goldbet and Lottomatica.
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The prediction
The odds on a goal, almost double the stake, are too good to ignore. And since Bilbao ultimately has the better players in its squad, it could well take all three points. But we believe it is almost certain that both teams will score.
Probable lineups for Valencia-Athletic Bilbao
VALENCIA (3-5-2): Agirezzabala; Tarrega, Diakhaby, Copete; Foulquier, Lopez, Guerra, Santamaria, Gaya; Duro, Dajnuma.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (4-2-3-1): Simon; Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Berenguer, Sancet, Williams; Guruzeta.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2