Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

Athletic Bilbao's bid to suffice for Europe volition proceed connected Sunday day erstwhile they invited a Valencia outfit that are not yet harmless from the driblet successful Spain's apical flight.

The location broadside are presently eighth successful the La Liga table, level connected points with seventh-placed Getafe, portion Valencia are 12th, 3 points supra the relegation zone.

Match preview

There is nary getting distant from the information that it has been an underwhelming run for Athletic, but they are inactive precise overmuch successful the contention for Europe heading into the last straight.

Ernesto Valverde's broadside volition participate this lucifer disconnected the backmost of a 4-2 occurrence implicit Alaves, with the effect moving them onto 44 points from 34 matches, which is capable for eighth, level connected points with seventh-placed Getafe and 3 down Celta Vigo successful sixth.

Securing much Champions League shot for adjacent play volition beryllium incredibly tough, though, arsenic they beryllium 9 points down fifth-placed Real Betis.

Athletic finished 29th successful the league signifier of this season's Champions League, but they could beryllium well-placed to beryllium a superior challenger for the Europa League adjacent term, should qualification for the contention beryllium secured successful the last stages of the campaign.

The Lions person picked up 29 points from their 17 location league matches this season, portion Valencia person collected 13 points from their 17 La Liga fixtures connected their travels.

As for Valencia, Carlos Corberan's broadside inactive person enactment to bash erstwhile it comes to avoiding relegation, with the squad presently 12th successful the table, 3 points up of 18th-placed Alaves.

Incredibly, though, Los Che are lone 5 points disconnected seventh-placed Getafe and a spot successful the Conference League playoff round, which demonstrates however adjacent it is successful the division.

Valencia volition participate this lucifer disconnected the backmost of a 2-0 location decision to Atletico Madrid, but they did extremity April with a 2-1 occurrence implicit Girona astatine Mestalla.

Los Che suffered a 2-1 location decision to Athletic successful the reverse lucifer earlier this season, and they person mislaid 3 of their past 4 fixtures with Sunday's opponents.

Valencia's past 3 wins implicit Athletic person each been astatine home, meanwhile, with their past distant triumph implicit the Lions coming backmost successful September 2019.

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

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Valencia La Liga form:

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Team News

Athletic request to marque a precocious cheque connected the fittingness of Benat Prados, but determination is simply a accidental that the Basque outfit could person a fully-fit squad for the sojourn of Valencia.

Robert Navarro's extremity and awesome show disconnected the seat against Alaves past clip retired should pb to a commencement for the attacker connected Sunday.

Nico Williams showed signs of his champion against Alaves, scoring twice, and the Spain planetary volition beryllium aiming to enactment his fittingness problems down him to bask a beardown extremity to the season.

As for Valencia, Mouctar Diakhaby, Dimitri Foulquier, Copete, Thierry Correia and Julen Agirrezabala person been ruled retired of the contest, portion Lucas Beltran is simply a large doubt.

Head manager Corberan could marque 3 changes from the broadside that started against Atletico past clip out, with Unai Nunez and Eray Comert perchance being introduced into the defence, portion Diego Lopez could diagnostic successful a wide area.

However, determination is expected to beryllium different spot done the mediate for Umar Sadiq, who has scored doubly successful his past 3 La Liga appearances.

Athletic Bilbao imaginable starting lineup:

Simon; Gorosabel, Alvarez, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Rego; Navarro, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta

Valencia imaginable starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; U Nunez, Comert, Tarrega, Gaya; Rioja, Guerra, Rodriguez, Lopez; Ramazani, Sadiq

We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Valencia

We are expecting this to beryllium a choky lucifer successful presumption of the scoreline, but Athletic request to triumph to support pushing for the apical six, and the Lions should person capable prime to shadiness the match.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.