Match Pack: Valencia CF vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD21)

After last weekend's round of LaLiga fixtures, in which Athletic won while most of our direct rivals failed to pick up points, the European positions are with Los Leones' reach once again.

The Zurigorri travel to Mestalla where they will face a Valencia side in the middle of a nose-dive. Los Che are winless in six and now sit just one point above the drop zone. What's more, this is the second time in two weeks the sides have faced off at Mestalla, the Lions recently knocking Valencia out of the Copa del Rey with a 1-3 victory at the coastal city.

It's an all important fixture for Ernesto Valverde's charges, who will want to string together a positive run and lay down a marker in the race for European qualification.

Match Info
Valencia CF vs Athletic Club (Matchday 21)

Mestalla (Valencia)

LaLiga Santander 22/23

Saturday February 11, 21:00 CET

How to Watch
LaLiga TV operators and kick-off times around the world to make sure you don't miss the match.

Team News
Valverde has named a 22-man squad for the clash. Striker Iñaki Williams is back after recovering from a hamstring issue and goalkeeper Ander Iru is also called up.

In terms of absences, centre-back Iñigo Martínez is out with a heel injury and centre-mid Ander Herrera has a hamstring strain. What's more, Yuri Berchiche is serving a one-match ban after accumulating five yellow cards.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything the gaffer had to say ahead of the clash in Bilbao.

The Opponents

Head coach: Voro
After Gennaro Gattuso was relieved of his duties at the end of January, Voro - full name Salvador González Marco - was appointed Valencia caretaker manager for the eighth time since his first temporary stint as boss in 2008. His most recent spell as interim head coach at Mestalla came in May 2021, leading Los Che to two wins, a draw and a loss during his four games in charge.

Top scorer: Edinson Cavani
With five goals in 13 LaLiga appearances for Valencia so far this season, the Uruguyan striker is showing no signs of slowing down despite his 35 years of age.

Since coming to Europe in 2006/07, Cavani has scored 367 goals in 631 matches while playing for some of the biggest clubs on the continent: Palermo FC, SSC Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.

Recent form (LaLiga): LDLLL
Although Los Che started the season relatively well, a poor run after the World Cup has seen them slide down the table to 17th - ultimately leading to Gattuso's departure.

The Valencians last LaLiga win was a 3-0 home victory over Real Betis on November 10, while their most recent outing was a 1-0 loss to Girona FC in Catalonia.

Previous Meetings
The first LaLiga clash between the two sides was a 0-0 draw at Mestalla back in 1932/33. A regular top-flight fixture, Los Leones and Los Che have faced off a total of 175 times, with Athletic winning 63, drawing 45 and losing 67.

Away days at Mestalla have proved to be tough for Athletic over the years, the Lions registering 13 victories, 24 draws and 50 defeats.

As for the last five LaLiga encounters in Valencia, Athletic have prevailed on one occasion, lost twice and drawn on their two most recent visits.

This season's return fixture took place at San Mames in August. Athletic picked up all three points thanks to an Alex Berenguer strike in the 42nd minute.