Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction and Preview – 17/03/16
Europa League preview – Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao prediction.
Midfielder Sofiane Feghouli and defender Shkodran Mustafi are nursing concussion and will be assessed before Valencia face Bilbao in the second leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday. Andre Gomes is doubtful after breaking off training to receive treatment for a back injury. Coach Gary Neville will be without Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev, defender Joao Cancelo and winger Zakaria Bakkali who are injured.
Sabin Merino scored twice at the weekend in his makeshift role as centre forward but could find himself back on the bench with Bilbao top scorer Aritz Aduriz set to return to the starting lineup. Ernesto Valverde has no new injury concerns and could name the same side that won the first leg 1-0 which would mean a place for goalkeeper Iago Herrerin who has been a safe pair of hands throughout the competition so far.
Possible Line-ups
Valencia 4-3-3 formation: Alves; Barragan, Mustafi, Santos, Gaya; Danilo, Parejo, Fuego; Feghouli, Negredo, Mina
Athletic Bilbao 4-2-3-1 formation: Herrerin; Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Benat; Susaeta, Garcia, Muniain; Aduriz
Statistics
- Valencia have won 5 drawn 1 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Athletic Bilbao have won 6 drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Valencia have scored an average of 1.8 goals and conceded an average of 1.2 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Athletic Bilbao have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Valencia’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Athletic Bilbao’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Three consecutive defeats have put the pressure back on Gary Neville after a short-lived upturn in results last month. Neville was scathing of his players after they were outplayed by bottom-of-the-league Levante on Sunday and Valencia fans will be hoping for a positive response from their team at Mestalla.
Bilbao equalled their best run of the season when winning a fifth successive game against Real Betis on Sunday. Valverde’s side have scored 13 and conceded 1 in this winning streak and look worthy favourites to progress to the last eight of the Europa League. They have won their last three away games in the competition with victories at Partizan Belgrade, Augsburg and Olympique Marseilles.
The omens do not look good for Valencia over-turning the 1-0 first leg deficit as they were defeated 3-0 by Bilbao at Mestalla just over two weeks ago.
Tips
Athletic Bilbao to win at 7/4 with Betfred
Under 2.5 goals at 21/25 with Marathonbet
Athletic Bilbao to win 1-0 at 8/1 with 888sport
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