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Preview: Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's La Liga contest between Valencia and Athletic Bilbao, including team news and predicted lineups.

Valencia and Athletic Bilbao meet at the Mestalla on Wednesday evening with just one point separating the clubs in the La Liga standings.

Sitting in eighth and ninth position respectively, each club is under pressure to get another win on the board as they bid to qualify for next season's Europa League.


Match preview

Valencia boss Albert Celades pictured on November 5, 2019© Reuters

Although Valencia sit just three points behind sixth place, Albert Celades will be aware that he is fighting to keep his job at the Mestalla in the long term.

Just two victories have been recorded from their last 10 matches, and it leaves Los Che with little momentum heading into their closing half-a-dozen outings.

Back-to-back defeats without scoring a goal have been posted on the road against Eibar and Villarreal, results which have realistically left the club out of the running for a Champions League spot.

Nevertheless, club officials will be eager to earn qualification for the Europa League, aware that any financial benefits over the next 12 months could prove crucial if they wish to remain as one of the nation's top clubs.

Despite holding a slender advantage in the table over their next opponents, there is little doubting that Athletic head into this contest as the favourites.

Eight points have been recorded from five games since the resumption, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Wins were registered against Real Betis and Mallorca either side of that blip, ensuring that Athletic remain as the form team of the clubs battling it out for sixth.

Although no players are necessarily standing out in the final third, just five goals have been conceded in as many games, an impressive return when also taking into account that they returned to action with a clash against Atletico Madrid.

However, with Real Madrid and Sevilla to follow their clash with Valencia, Gaizka Garitano knows that it is the wrong time to suffer a 10th league defeat of the season.

Valencia La Liga form: DDLWLL

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form: WDDWLW


Team News

Valencia's Rodrigo Moreno celebrates scoring their first goal on September 17, 2019© Reuters

Rodrigo Moreno could potentially drop out of the Valencia starting lineup to accommodate the return of Kevin Gameiro.

Goncalo Guedes is also a likely starter on the left flank, but Jose Gaya is expected to miss out due to injury.

Eliaquim Mangala is back in contention after serving a one-match ban.

Barring any late fitness issues, Garitano is unlikely to make any alterations to his Athletic starting lineup.

Iker Muniain may feel that his place is under threat after a number of ineffective showings in quick succession.

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Florenzi; Paulista, Mangala, Costa; Torres, Kondogbia, Parejo, Guedes; Gameiro, Gomez

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Capa, Alvarez, Martinez, Yuri; Lopez, D.Garcia; Williams, Sancet, Muniain; R.Garcia


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Valencia 1-2 Athletic Bilbao

Despite having home advantage, we make Valencia the underdogs heading into this contest. Athletic are beginning to put together some momentum, and another victory here will leave the teams above them looking over their shoulders.


ID:404283:

Who will win Wednesday's La Liga clash between Valencia and Athletic Bilbao?

Valencia
Draw
Real Betis
Valencia
53.4%
Draw
17.0%
Real Betis
29.5%
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Barcelona manager Quique Setien pictured in January 2020
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid36258366224483
2Barcelona36247580364479
3Atletico MadridAtletico361715448262266
4Sevilla361812653341966
5Villarreal361761358471157
6Getafe361412104334954
7Real Sociedad36166145547854
8Athletic Bilbao361312114132951
9Valencia361311124552-750
10Granada36148144644250
11Osasuna361212124251-948
12Levante36127174351-843
13Real Betis361011154756-941
14Real Valladolid36815132940-1139
15EibarEibar36109173651-1539
16Celta Vigo36715143546-1136
17AlavesAlaves3699183253-2136
18Leganes36711182649-2332
19Mallorca3695223761-2432
20Espanyol3659222757-3024

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