Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao 17 October 2026 Prediction

Valencia hopes a change of manager will help end its poor run, but Javier Aguirre’s first match in charge did not bring a win. Next up is an Athletic side in better form. Valencia won the teams’ last two La Liga meetings, though repeating that result at Mestalla will be difficult.

Valencia’s Defensive Problems

Valencia has taken just five points from eight matches and entered the ninth round next to last in La Liga. Its only win came against Alavés (1-0), while five games ended in defeat. Defense is the biggest concern: Valencia has conceded 15 goals, including eight in its recent home games against Barcelona (0-5) and Real Sociedad (2-3). Former Mexico manager Javier Aguirre was brought in to improve results, but his debut ended in a 2-2 draw with Racing. Valencia’s defensive problems have yet to ease.

Injuries further limit Aguirre’s options. Diego López, Umar Sadiq and Sergi Canós remain sidelined. Luis Rioja and Dimitri Foulquier are also questionable. Valencia has won its last two La Liga meetings with Athletic, but its current form makes a third straight win a difficult prospect.

Athletic Has Had Extra Rest

Athletic has improved after a slow start. In its last four completed La Liga matches, it has recorded two wins and two draws while conceding just once. Edin Terzić’s side did not finish its previous game against Rayo Vallecano. Play was stopped in the first half after a large-scale protest by Rayo fans, who threw objects onto the field. Athletic therefore arrives at Mestalla with less recent playing time than Valencia, and its defense presents a challenge for the hosts.

Athletic also has significant availability concerns. Nico Williams is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to face Valencia. Attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet is out as well. Aymeric Laporte is questionable: he missed the previous match because he was unwell and did not return to field work and partial team training until October 15. Athletic could be without three regular starters.

Valencia vs Athletic Predicted Lineup

Valencia (5-4-1): Dimitrievski – Maffeo, Diakhaby, Pepelu, De Haas, Gayà – Raba, Ugrinic, G. Rodríguez, Guerra – Duro

Unavailable: D. López, Sadiq, Canós (injured); Foulquier, Rioja (questionable)

Manager: Javier Aguirre

Athletic (4-2-3-1): Simón – Areso, Álvarez, Paredes, Berchiche – Gerenabarrena, de Galarreta – Navarro, Canales, Berenguer – I. Williams

Unavailable: Sancet, Egiluz (injured); N. Williams, Laporte (questionable)

Manager: Edin Terzić

Valencia vs Athletic Prediction: Athletic to Win at 2.20

Main pick: Athletic is unbeaten in four straight completed La Liga matches. Valencia has lost three of its four home games, with its only point coming from a scoreless draw against Celta. Athletic also had a lighter workload in its interrupted match against Rayo Vallecano. Given the teams’ recent form and Valencia’s home results, the pick is Athletic to win at 2.20.

Goals pick: Athletic has conceded only one goal in its last four completed La Liga matches. Valencia has struggled to score at home, and each of Athletic’s last two away games finished with no more than two goals. The same was true of five of the teams’ previous six meetings in all competitions, four of which ended 1-0. The pick is under 2.5 goals at 1.78.