Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia Predictions

Athletic to grind down travel-sick Valencia

Athletic Bilbao look the best bet when they host Valencia at San Mames on Sunday. The visitors have been poor on the road this season, with just three wins in 17 away games, and Ernesto Valverde’s side can take advantage.

This is a mid-table clash, with Athletic Bilbao eighth in the table, four places above Valencia, but both teams have lost more games than they’ve won this season. Athletic have won 13 and lost 16 of their 34 games, while Valencia have ten wins and 15 defeats.

Athletic Bilbao have found the net in their last four league games, and they’ve scored at least twice in two of those.

They have momentum at the moment, having won four of their last six home league games. They have also only lost one of their last ten Primera Liga matches against Valencia.

Valencia have been disappointing in front of goal away from home this season, scoring just 14 goals in 17 games – an average of 0.82 goals a game on the road.

Their struggles at the back are a major concern. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last ten league games, with their last shutout coming against Sevilla in March.

A narrow 1-0 win for Athletic Bilbao looks the most likely outcome. The last four Primera Liga head-to-heads between these sides have all featured fewer than three goals and, this season, Athletic have won ten of their games by the odd goal.

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Edited by Mark Langdon