Valencia CF take on Athletic Club Bilbao at Mestalla on 20 September 2025 in La Liga Round 5, with both squads hoping to bounce back and build early season momentum.
Prediction Overview
The tip is Both Teams to Score – NO (BTTS No). Athletic Bilbao are showing defensive discipline in away La Liga fixtures, and Valencia - despite home advantage - are struggling after a heavy recent loss. Combined with head-to-head trends favoring tighter scorelines, a match that finishes with only one team scoring appears more likely than both getting on the scoresheet.
Valencia’s Recent Troubles & Offensive Inconsistency
Valencia were hammered 6-0 by Barcelona in their last match, leaving questions about confidence and defensive morale. Their form has otherwise been mixed: they have only one home win this season (3-0 vs. Getafe), and their scoring at home averages less than 1 goal per game. While they do create chances, finishing and defensive lapses have hurt them badly, especially against teams that defend well and pressure high.
Athletic Bilbao’s Stability on the Road & Defensive Strength
Athletic Club have started the season well in La Liga: as of Round 4 they hold 3 wins, 0 draws, and 1 loss with a strong away record (including a win away from home). Their defensive shape tends to be compact when traveling, and they often limit the number of shots allowed, especially in games where they are under pressure. Their scoring is decent, but not wildly prolific, making them more likely to win 1-0 or similar rather than engage in goalfests.
Head-to-Head & Statistical Trends Suggest a Low-Scoring Bout
H2H data between Valencia and Athletic Bilbao shows average goals per match around 2.44, meaning many games end 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 rather than both sides scoring heavily. BTTS rates for this specific fixture are mixed: Valencia have both scored and conceded in only 25 % of their matches so far, while Athletic are at about 50 %. Furthermore, preview stats show that “BTTS NO” has a slightly better historical success rate in this matchup and betting odds reflect that lean.
