Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Valencia have started a new era in unwanted chaotic fashion as they now welcome Athletic Club down to Mestalla on Saturday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Disney+ / USA – ESPN+
Valencia preview: Struggling Valencia
The sacking of Carlos Corberan and the subsequent appointment of former Mexico boss Javier Aguirre has been done with the intention of battening down the hatches and eventually pushing themselves clear of the bottom three and the relegation places.
Los Che were more chaotic and entertaining than they would have liked, therefore, as they took an early lead at El Sardinero against Racing Santander before needing an equaliser mid-way through the second half in a 2-2 draw in Cantabria.
Athletic Bilbao preview: Inconsistent Athletic
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic replaced Ernesto Valverde over the summer and there have been flashes of impressive stuff since losing their opening couple of games but it has been an inconsistent and disrupted start.
That disruption was brought about by a last-minute postponement against Levante last month before their game against Rayo Vallecano was abandoned last week due to protests from the Rayo supporters aimed at their club at Vallecas.
Valencia team news: Fresh injuries
Valencia have some fresh injury issues as both Dimitri Foulquier and Luis Rioja are now doubts. Javier Aguirre’s former Real Mallorca centre-back Jose Manuel Copete is nearing a return from a knee injury sustained in February.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Dimitrieski; Pablo Maffeo, Diakhaby, De Haas, Jose Luis Gaya; Ugrinic, Javi Guerra, Rodriguez, Pepelu, Dani Raba; Hugo Duro
Unavailable: Sergi Canos (Injured), Diego Lopez (Injured), Sadiq (Injured)
Questionable: Copete (Fitness), Foulquier (Injured), Luis Rioja (Injured)
Athletic Bilbao team news: Key issues
Athletic have some key injury absentees as both Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams are sidelined. Aymeric Laporte should have recovered from illness for this one, though.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesus Areso, Yeray, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Benat Gerenabarrena; Robert Navarro, Paio Canales, Alex Berenguer; Inaki Williams
Unavailable: Unai Egiluz (Injured), Oihan Sancet (Injured), Nico Williams (Injured)
Questionable: Laporte (Illness)
Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao prediction
Athletic really should head down to Mestalla feeling quite fresh having played two games fewer than the vast majority of their rest of the division – and that should aid them in wanting to play with the energy and intensity of a Terzic style of football. Javier Aguirre may indeed take some time to get his defensive and more conservative principles drilled into his struggling side and so it could be another open game here in which both teams scoring again seems a decent bet.
Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao tip: Both teams to score
