Valencia go host Athletic Club for Estadio Mestalla on Saturday 17 October, with kick-off set for 15:00, for one La Liga match wey two struggling sides need win. Valencia dey 19th with five points from eight games — one win, two draws and five defeats — while Athletic Club dey 10th with eight points from six completed matches, after two wins, two draws and two defeats.
Valencia early season form na serious worry. Javier Aguirre side pick only one point from opening five matches, but dem don gather four points from last three. First league win came away to Alaves on September 15. Reports on dia last game no agree: one account talk 2-2 away draw with Racing Club Santander at Estadio El Sardinero, another talk 1-1 draw with Racing de Santander on October 11, which be Aguirre first game as head coach.
Athletic Club season also get yawa outside pitch. Their La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano at Estadio de Vallecas was abandoned in 13th minute after home fans throw paper planes and rubber balls onto pitch as protest against club owner and president Raul Martin Presa. Edin Terzic side last play goalless draw with Alaves at San Mamés on September 19, and dem no lose league since 2-0 defeat to Barcelona end August.
Valencia go miss Sergi Canos, Diego Lopez and Umar Sadiq through injury, while Luis Rioja and Dimitri Foulquier dey fitness doubts. For head-to-head, Valencia lead overall record 77 wins to Athletic Club 74, with 49 draws from 200 matches. Valencia beat Athletic Club 1-0 at San Mamés in May 2026, but previous 10 meetings favor Athletic Club: six wins, three for Valencia, one draw.
Some player form dey give Valencia hope. Javier Guerra na top scorer with three goals, Luis Rioja and Guido Rodriguez get two each, Guerra also top assists with two, while goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski keep two clean sheets. Athletic Club side get Inaki Williams and Robert Navarro on two goals each, Oihan Sancet on one; Inaki Williams don provide four assists in previous 10 games, and Unai Simon get three clean sheets.
Athletic Club get four matches before end of October. After Valencia, dem face Levante and Getafe for league, then Prat for Copa del Rey on October 29.
