Valencia vs Athletic prediction: team news, lineups, expert analysis
On October 17, 2026, Valencia and Athletic will meet in the 9th round of Spain's La Liga. Neither side wants to suffer another defeat.
Valencia - Athletic team news and expert analysis
The club from Mestalla had been coached by Corberán since the middle of the season before last. He kept the team from relegation in 2025, and in the spring finished ninth with his charges on 49 points. But in the current campaign, after a goalless draw with Celta, they suffered four consecutive defeats and the manager was dismissed. Valencia immediately beat Alavés without him, but then lost 0-3 to Real Sociedad. During the international break, Aguirre was persuaded to take charge. Under him, they could only draw 2-2 with modest Racing.
The team from Bilbao failed to reach the Champions League playoffs in 2025/2026 and dropped to 12th place in La Liga. Terzić replaced Valverde as head coach in the summer, but his start was far from ideal: after the first six rounds, the team had an equal number of wins, draws and defeats. They never really got to play against Rayo Vallecano either, as the fans caused the match to be abandoned.
Sadiq and his teammates are currently averaging just 0.75 goals scored and conceding 1.88, several times more. For every 1.17 goals the Basques score, their opponents manage to find the net once.
Previous meetings: Valencia - Athletic
The sides have won three times each in their last six head-to-head encounters.
There is greater faith here in an away win. However, neither team is at its peak, so our pick is "under 2.5 goals" (odds – 1.75).
Valencia - Athletic: key statistics and trends
- Valencia have lost five of their eight matches this season
- In 38% of Valencia's matches, both teams score, while the average total goals per game is 2.63
- Athletic are unbeaten in four consecutive matches
- In 33% of Athletic's matches, both teams score, while the average total goals per game is 2.17
Valencia - Athletic: possible starting lineups
Valencia play in a 1-5-4-1 formation (possible lineup): Dmitrievski — Maffeo, Diakhaby, De Haas, Gayà, Pepelu — Ugrinić, Javi Guerra, Guido Rodríguez, Raba — Hugo Duro
Athletic play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible lineup): Unai Simón - Berchiche, Laporte, Paredes, Louis-Jean - Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta - Nico Williams, Sancet, Navarro - Iñaki Williams
Follow the La Liga standings and stay up to date with your team's form before placing a bet on the next match
