Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

• Valencia have lost only two of their last 12 home league games
• Athletic Bilbao have suffered back-to-back defeats
• The last three meetings between these sides have featured exactly one goal

Familiar surroundings key for Valencia in bid to bounce back

Valencia endured a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Barcelona last Sunday but this may be a good time to host Athletic Bilbao on the back of their taxing week.

The Lions won their opening three La Liga games, all of which came before the international break, but they returned to action with a 1-0 defeat at home to Alaves last weekend.

Ernesto Valverde’s side may have had a legitimate excuse for that setback as they had one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League visit from Arsenal, who weathered the early storm before pouncing late in a 2-0 victory.

However, the Basque boys would have put a lot of effort into that against elite company and Valencia, the fresher side, will be desperate to respond to that humiliation at Barca.

The Bats have taken four points from their two home league games, drawing 1-1 with Real Sociedad before they recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory against Getafe.

That means that Valencia have lost only two of their last 12 La Liga outings at the Mestalla Stadium and Bilbao failed to win six of their final nine away games last season.

The last three meetings between the pair have featured exactly one goal and this could be another cagey contest, with Valencia taken to put their extra rest to good use and grind out a 1-0 victory.