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Valencia CF vs. Athletic Bilbao
After a busy English week in Spain’s top division, matchday 7 is now upon us for the La Liga teams. Our Valencia – Bilbao tip will tell you everything you need to know about this top match. The current form, tactical subtleties or the most attractive odds you get here in this report. FC Valencia and Athletic Bilbao, together with FC Sevilla, are among the biggest pursuers of the well-known top clubs from Spain. The season so far underlines this, as both clubs are currently in the top seven. Even though neither team is on international duty this year, the phrase “top match” is quite appropriate.
After a rather disappointing last season, Valencia and Bilbao are now out of European business. However, this allows them to focus more on the domestic league, which has worked quite well so far this season. Valencia FC are in 4th place, while Bilbao sit close behind in 7th. Thus, both can continue to stalk the top flight with a win and thus keep their chance of international places at the end of the season.
Valencia – Bilbao Info
– Date & Time: 25/09/2021, at 16:15.
– Venue: Valencia, Mestalla
– Competition: La Liga, Matchday 7
– TV coverage: DAZN
Valencia Form & Balance Check
Valencia FC have started this season very ambitiously after a rather disappointing last season. With 10 points from the first 4 games, the bats have made almost the perfect start to the season. The opening home win against Getafe was followed by a draw at Granada, before two high victories against Alaves and Osasuna. Also on matchday 5 against Real Madrid, the men from Valencia delivered a very strong and courageous performance and deservedly led until the 85th minute.
However, Real Madrid would not be Real Madrid if they did not manage to completely turn the game around and win within 2 minutes. With this very bitter defeat, they then went to Sevilla, where they fell behind 3:0 very early on. Although the result was somewhat improved, it was far from being turned around. Therefore, the port cities are currently in a slump in form, which they will try to end against Bilbao.
The solution is Bordalás
Valencia FC is currently still in a state of complete upheaval. It all started with the dismissal of successful coach Marcelino Garcia, who fell out with the investor and had to leave. After that, the bats were in a permanent decline. After missing out on European business in the 2019/20 season, numerous key players such as Ferran Torres, Dani Parejo and Rodrigo Moreno had to leave the club. Even after that, things did not go smoothly. None of the coaches could form the team into a unit, which ultimately meant missing out on the international places once again.
But then came the saviour. José Bordalás turned Valencia around and brought out the potential that had been there for so long. The start of the season was outstanding. Even in the defeat against Real Madrid, there were a lot of positives. Only the defeat at Sevilla does not quite fit into this season. Despite everything, José Bordalás seems to be the right man on the sidelines of the bats to lead them back to Europe.
Valencia facts & analysis
– Valencia with a very good start to the season
– Very unlucky loss against Real Madrid
– Last 2 defeats in a row
– Found probably the perfect coach in José Bordalás
– Valencia on the upswing overall
Bilbao form & balance check
The Basques from Bilbao are playing like they do every year this season: very defensive and defence-oriented. You can see that in the results of the season opener. In the first 5 games, a very good 9 points were collected. In addition, Bilbao only conceded 1 goal in these duels and that was from Barcelona. Besides the draw against the Catalans, there were also two goalless draws against Elche and Atletico Madrid, as well as two wins against Mallorca and Celta Vigo.
So until last week, you could have talked about a world-class start to this season. However, Radamel Falcao and Rayo Vallecano put a spanner in the works for the Basques. In Tuesday’s match, which was tied 1-1 for a long time, the Colombian just mentioned scored at the same time as the final whistle to hand Bilbao their first defeat. Thus, FC Valencia and Athletic Bilbao are roughly on an equal footing, as both started well and recently suffered bitter defeats.
200 games in a row
What sounds almost impossible for players like Neymar, Marco Reus and Ousmane Dembele has come true for Inaki Williams. Athletic Bilbao’s absolute perennial favourite played his 200th game in a row for the Basques in the match against Atletico Madrid. The Basque-born player has not missed a game for his club since April 2016. This fact is incredible and unique in European professional sport. No injury, no personal circumstances, no holiday, not even a slight cold came between the Spaniard and his football boots. This fascinating willingness has made him an indispensable part of the team and it is virtually impossible to imagine life without him.
Bilbao Facts & Analysis
– Only 1 goal conceded in the first 5 games.
– Unbeaten in their first 5 games
– Lost unluckily last time out
– Inaki Williams with 200th game in a row
– In similar form to Valencia
Predicted line-up – last update on 23 September 2021
Both teams will field in their usual 4-4-2 system. When the formations mirror each other, it usually comes down to individual quality, which should be about the same. In terms of personnel, Valencia will probably not make any changes. On the Bilbao side, Inaki Williams is likely to return to the starting eleven after last getting a well-deserved rest after 200 games in a row.
Valencia – Bilbao direct comparison & stats
As you might have expected, the head-to-head comparison between these two teams is very even. In a total of 174 encounters, there are 68 wins for Valencia, 43 draws and 63 victories for Bilbao. Other than that, there are no major standouts, except that there have never been more than 4 goals in a clash since 2017.
– Very balanced record
– Valencia have lost only 1 to Bilbao in their last 6 meetings at home.
– Never scored more than 4 goals in a clash since 2017
– Both without international business this year
– Bilbao with 100% players from the Basque Country
