The Matchday 25 encounter in La Liga between Athletic and Valladolid will take place on February 23 at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Athletic vs. Valladolid: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Athletic
The Basques missed the opportunity to capitalize on the slip-ups of the two Madrid teams above them in the table, as they also settled for a draw in the last round. Ernesto Valverde's side drew 1-1 away to Espanyol. However, the club remains in fourth place in the standings, just six points behind leaders Barcelona. Additionally, Athletic's unbeaten run in La Liga has now stretched to 15 matches (8 wins and 7 draws).
- Both teams have scored in 7 of Athletic's last 10 La Liga games.
- No more than three goals have been scored in 13 of Athletic's last 14 league matches.
- The club has kept a first-half clean sheet in eight of their previous home matches in La Liga.
Predicted lineup for Athletic (4-2-3-1)
Unai Simón – Andoni Gorosabel, Yuri Berchiche, Yeray Álvarez, Dani Vivian – Beñat Prados, Mikel Jauregi – Iñaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Álex Berenguer – Maroán Sannadi.
Forward Álvaro Djalo is out due to injury.
Valladolid
Valladolid, on the other hand, suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat at home to Sevilla in the last round. This marked the club's seventh heavy defeat in the current La Liga campaign. The team approaches the upcoming match with a five-game losing streak in La Liga, during which they have been outscored 2:15. The club continues to occupy the bottom of the table, with an eight-point gap from the safe 17th place.
- At least one team has failed to score in 6 of Valladolid's last 8 league matches.
- The number "1" has appeared in the final scoreline in 7 of Valladolid's last 10 away La Liga games.
- Valladolid has not won the first half in their last 15 away matches in La Liga (8 draws and 7 losses).
Predicted lineup for Valladolid (4-1-4-1)
Karl Hein – Luis Pérez, Antonio Candela, Joseph Aidoo, David Torres – Tamás Nikitscher – Adam Aznu, Florian Grillitsch, Mario Martín, Anuar Tuhami – Juanmi Latasa.
Midfielders Selim Amallah and Anuar Tuhami are suspended.
Match Prediction: Athletic vs. Valladolid
For the Basques, the upcoming match is an excellent opportunity to improve their goal difference. The current Valladolid side is a good point provider for most La Liga teams: the club not only concedes the most goals in the league but has also lost 17 of 24 matches. Notably, nearly a third of Valladolid's losses have been by large margins.
Athletic performs excellently at home. The Bilbao club has a nine-match unbeaten run at San Mamés in the league (6 wins and 3 draws). In their last home match in La Liga, the team thrashed Girona 3-0. Meanwhile, Valladolid has lost all seven of their previous away matches in La Liga, with a goal difference of 3:16.
My prediction: Athletic with a handicap (-1.5)
