🏏 Sat, 17 Oct 2026 21:00 CEST
Valencia
vs
Athletic Club
4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1
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- Valencia sit 19th on five points from eight matches (1W 2D 5L), with just six goals scored and 15 conceded for a -9 goal difference. Athletic Club arrive 11th on eight points but have played only six games, the fewest in the division. With Levante (17th) and Elche (18th) both on seven, Mestalla's hosts are two points shy of safety.
- Home form is Valencia's biggest problem. They were beaten 5-0 at Mestalla by leaders Barcelona (27 points from nine) in round four and lost 3-2 at home to Real Sociedad in round seven. Their better moments came on the road: a 1-0 win at Alaves in round six and a 2-2 draw at Racing Santander in round eight, leaving a jagged L-L-W-L-D sequence.
- Athletic's recent run reads L-W-W-D-D. They dismantled Atletico Madrid 3-0 at home in round four, then stalled with a 1-1 draw against Elche and a goalless draw with Alaves, both at home. Seven goals scored and six conceded in six outings tells the story: a tight defence paired with a blunt attack.
- The shape battle pits Valencia's 5-4-1 against Athletic's 4-2-3-1. Valencia use Pepelu, a 185cm midfielder by trade who arrived via Levante and Hercules, inside a back five alongside the 194cm pair of Cesar Tarrega and Justin de Haas. Athletic counter with a double pivot of 33-year-old playmaker Lluis de Galarreta and 23-year-old Benat Gerenabarrena.
- Aymeric Laporte anchors the visiting defence. The 32-year-old left-footed centre-back won the Premier League and Champions League at Manchester City, moved on to Al-Nassr and returned to the club that developed him, and he was part of Spain's Euro 2024 triumph. His long diagonals against Hugo Duro, the 26-year-old left-footed striker leading Valencia's line alone, is a duel worth tracking.
- The goalkeeping match-up carries weight too. Unai Simon, 29 and 190cm, is Spain's first choice and a Euro 2020 shootout hero. Opposite him stands Stole Dimitrievski, the 32-year-old North Macedonia number one who built his reputation across spells at Rayo Vallecano and Granada and relies on sharp reflexes and positioning.
- Athletic captain Inaki Williams, 32 and 186cm, holds La Liga's consecutive-appearance record and brings raw pace plus relentless pressing as a Ghana international. He will be shadowed by Pablo Maffeo, the 29-year-old right-back who came through Manchester City's academy and, at 172cm, makes aggressive man-marking his trademark. Alex Berenguer, 31, with Torino and Osasuna on his CV, adds another flank threat.
- Valencia's four-man midfield band features two former Villarreal men. Arnaut Danjuma, 29, is a Netherlands international whose career has taken in Villarreal, Tottenham, Everton and Bournemouth, and he thrives cutting inside. Dani Raba, 30 and left-footed at 184cm, won the Europa League with Villarreal and can operate on either flank, making him a natural outlet on the break.
- Both benches offer real quality. Valencia can call on Harvey Elliott, the 23-year-old left-footed attacking midfielder on loan from Liverpool who once set the Premier League's youngest-appearance record with Fulham, plus 19-year-old David Otorbi, who debuted for the club at 16. Athletic hold back 188cm forward Gorka Guruzeta, 192cm Morocco international Maroan Sannadi and 36-year-old Yuri Berchiche, a treble winner at Paris Saint-Germain.
- This is also a meeting of two academy-driven clubs. Athletic start homegrown products in Aitor Paredes, 26, Peio Canales, the 21-year-old who enhanced his standing on loan at Racing Santander, and B-team graduate Gerenabarrena. Valencia answer with their own canteranos: captain Jose Gaya, 31, centre-back Cesar Tarrega, 24, and the 187cm 23-year-old Javi Guerra.