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These two played out four consecutive draws before Valencia beat Athletic 1-0 in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg just two months ago. Los Che have won just one of their last 11 visits to Bilbao, albeit that victory came in 2019.
Both teams to score is 21/10.
Athletic Club to win and over 2.5 goals is 8/5.
Iñaki Williams, amazingly, has never scored in 15 appearances against Valencia. He is 7/2 to break the deadlock and 11/10 to put that right here.
Match preview
Athletic Club Bilbao very much back in the race for European football.
Last Saturday night, the Lions beat Atlético Madrid 2-0 at San Mamés, thanks to an early own goal and a Panenka penalty from Iñaki Williams.
Last Saturday’s victory means Marcelino’s men remain eighth, but are now just one point below Villarreal who occupy the final European position.
After this, Athletic conclude the campaign with games against Granada, Osasuna and Sevilla, so there’s certainly points to be accumulated.
For Marcelino personally, with presidential elections coming up at the club in July, a top seven finish would make him more secure in his job.
Valencia meanwhile are the other huge Spanish club outside the top seven just now but their season seems to be petering out.
A fortnight ago, los Murciélagos were beaten on penalties by Real Betis in the Copa del Rey Final; teenager Yunus Musah the only man to miss from 12 yards.
In La Liga, they were held to a 1-1 draw by local-rivals and bottom of the table Levante in Derby del Turia last weekend.
Hugo Duro opened the scoring at Mestalla, but José Luis Gayà was sent off shortly after with Levante snatching a draw late on.
So, José Bordalás’ side are now winless in five and have slipped down to tenth; who knows if he’ll still be in his job come August.
Given all this, Athletic Club will feel this is a golden opportunity to claim three points.
Athletic Bilbao team news
Athletic are spoilt for choice at centre-back now that they’re all fit again.
Iñigo Martínez and Yeray Álvarez got the nod last weekend but Dani Vivian and Unai Núñez are good alternatives.
Iñaki Williams will continue to lead the line having now appeared in 227 successive La Liga matches.
He last missed one on 17 April 2016 against Málaga; remarkable.
His brother Nico was also very bright last weekend so could keep his place, alongside Raúl García and Iker Miniain as the front quartet.
Valencia team news
José Luis Gayà’s red card in last weekend’s derby means he is suspended for this one.
So Jesús Vázquez, who’d been starting when Gayà was out injured, will come back in at left-back.
Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue to get the nod in goal, over the vastly more experienced pair of Jasper Cillessen and Jaume Doménech.
José Bordalás went for Hugo Guillamón and Uroš Račić as his midfield duo last weekend, chosen over Yunus Musah.
Maxi Gómez is fit again but Gonçalo Guedes and Hugo Duro could continue up front.
La Liga table:
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