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Valencia vs Athletic Club Preview: Odds, Tips, and Prediction

Date: 18 May 2025 Venue: Estadio de Mestalla Kick-off: 17:00 UTC Valencia hosts Athletic Club at the Estadio de Mestalla on Sunday, 18 May 2025. Valencia are pushing to secure a top-half finish, while Athletic Club are aiming to cement a top-four finish. With both teams in the hunt for crucial points, this match promises excitement and excellent betting value for LaLiga betting enthusiasts!

Thierry Henry
Nigel Naicker

Last Updated: 2025-05-16

Chad Nagel

4 minutes read

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Niko Williams of Athletic Club de Bilbao plays during the La Liga match

Niko Williams/Getty Images

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

Here’s a breakdown of the pre-match betting odds for Valencia vs Athletic Club:  

  1. Home: 11/5 (3.20) – 31.3%  

  2. Draw: 23/10 (3.30) – 30.3%  

  3. Away: 6/5 (2.20) – 38.4%  
    Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.

Head-to-Head Record

Check out the head-to-head record for Valencia vs Athletic Club:  

  1. 24/08/24 – Athletic Club 1-0 Valencia  

  2. 20/01/24 – Valencia 1-0 Athletic Club  

  3. 29/10/23 – Athletic Club 2-2 Valencia  

  4. 11/02/23 – Valencia 1-2 Athletic Club  

  5. 21/08/22 – Athletic Club 1-0 Valencia  

Valencia Current Form – WDDWW

Valencia are unbeaten in their last five games with two draws and three wins in that period. Sitting 10th with 45 points, they’ve scored 43 goals but conceded 51, showing attacking intent but defensive vulnerabilities.  

Diego Lopez celebrates scoring his team's second goal.jpg

Diego Lopez/Getty Images

Key Players to Watch

  • Hugo Duro  
    The Spanish forward has been Valencia’s standout player, with 11 goals and two assists in his 28 LaLiga. His clinical finishing is crucial.  
  • Pepelu  
    The midfielder’s passing and set-piece delivery has yielded two goals and two assists, making him a key playmaker for the home side.  
  • Giorgi Mamardashvili  
    The goalkeeper is very reliable between the sticks and has featured in 31 LaLiga games this season for Valencia.

Valencia Team News

Valencia are without Thierry Correira who is a long-term absentee with a knee injury. Javi Guerra should return to the side after serving a one-match ban in midweek, while Max Aarons, Pepelu, and Andre Almeida should all return to the side after their minor knocks. 

Athletic Club Current Form – WLWDW

Athletic Club have been in decent form, with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five LaLiga matches, alongside a 3-0 Europa League semi-final loss to Manchester United. Bilbao are ranked 4th with 65 points, they’ve scored 51 goals and conceded 26. 

Key Players to Watch

  • Oihan Sancet  
    The midfielder is a key threat and their best player this season, with 15 goals and one assist in LaLiga. His creativity and finishing are vital to the visitors.  
  • Gorka Guruzeta  
    The striker has six goals and two assists this season, using his movement and intelligence to exploit defences.  
  • Unai Simón  
    After returning from injury, the Spanish keeper has been brilliant for Bilbao and has featured in 18 LaLiga games this season.

Athletic Club Team News

Athletic Club will assess Nico Williams and Inaki Williams, who have groin and hamstring injuries respectively. Benat Prados is also a doubt, while Andoni Gorosabel and Alex Berenguer are available again after serving their one-match ban.

Predicted Line-Ups

  1. Valencia (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Mosquera, Tarrega, Gaya, Pepelu, Rioja, Lopez, Guerra, Barrenechea, Duro .

  2. Athletic Club (4-2-3-1): Simon, Gorosabel, Parades, Vivian, Boiro, Jauregizar, Galarreta, Gomez, Sancet, Berenguer, Guruzeta .

Suggested Bets

Use our suggested football betting tips if you bet on football games. 

  1. Both Teams to Score: Both teams have scored in three of their last five meetings. (4/5 with Betway)

  2. Over 2.5 Goals: There has been over 2.5 goals in three of the last five meetings between these two clubs. (11/10 with Betway) .

Value Bets

Our value bets will give you the best LaLiga betting insights with the most reliable bookmakers for betting.  

  1. Athletic Club to Win: With their Champions League aspirations, back the visitors to claim the victory. (6/5 with Betway) .

  2. Anytime Goal Scorer Oihan Sancet: Back Sancet to add to his 15 goals against Valencia on Sunday. (Forecast odds: 5/2) . 

Prediction: Athletic Club to Win  

Athletic Club’s attacking prowess should give them the advantage over a Valencia side that struggles defensively. Expect a close, goal-filled match, but Ernesto Valverde’s men should secure the victory to bolster their top-four hopes. For those looking to add extra excitement to the fixture, there are plenty of betting sites with welcome bonus that offer value ahead of this clash. 

Thierry Henry
Nigel NaickerBetting Writer

With a decade of sports writing expertise, Nigel Naicker has crafted compelling content across football leagues like the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, as well as cricket and UFC. A passionate storyteller since 2014, Nigel joins the SportsBoom team, ready to deliver insightful narratives across various sports disciplines.

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