Has Bilbao already digested the defeat against Barca?
The last four matchdays could not have gone worse for the Basques from Bilbao. Since the 2-1 win against Valencia, the Lions have not only not won any of their last four league games. Bilbao have even lost three of those four matches, including their most recent defeat to the leaders from Catalonia.
The Basques will be looking to make amends on Friday night when they host Real Valladolid. Despite a recent slump in form, the visitors are rated as favourites in the matchday opener in La Liga. Bookmakers are currently offering odds of up to 2.10 on the Basque side for a Valladolid vs Athletic Bilbao bet.
In the first leg, Bilbao already ensured a clear balance of power with a 3-0 win over the white-and-violets from Valladolid. Because the Basques’ Friday opponents have won only one of their last five competitive matches, it is by no means out of place to make a prediction on the Basque club between Valladolid vs. Athletic Bilbao this time as well.
The only encouraging thing for the hosts from Valladolid is their recent home record in La Liga. The promoted side have not lost any of their last three league games at the Estadio José Zorrilla since losing to Vallecano (0-1).
Valladolid – Statistics & current form
Real Valladolid are currently separated by just two points from the relegation zone, making it all the more important for the White and Purple to score against Athletic Bilbao. Last week, Valladolid dropped important points in the fight to stay in the relegation zone in what was supposed to be a must-win game against FC Elche.
Against the last team in the table, the “Pucelanos” only managed a meagre draw, with the goal conceded in injury time to make the final score 1-1. In the eventful final phase, two players on the white and purple side were sent off.
Real Valladolid will now be short of replacements for the upcoming league match against Bilbao. In addition to numerous players who are unavailable due to injury, Hongla and Mesa are also suspended with a red card. So it’s not the best of conditions ahead of the upcoming match in La Liga.
Ends the home series against Bilbao?
At home, Valladolid have a record of 6-2-4 after twelve league games, with only 21 goals scored in the White Violets’ twelve home games so far – an average of just 1.75 goals per match. It is quite possible that the forecast for a low-scoring encounter in Valladolid vs Bilbao will also come true.
In Valladolid’s last five games, the three-goal mark has only been broken once at home. With the current personnel problems and the current offensive form of the white-violets, it is obvious to place a bet on less than 2.5 goals this time. The bookmaker Winamax, tested by Wettbasis, can also be used for this.
Valladolid have won two of their last three home league games against the Basques. The last time the “Pucelanos” were in the Spanish top flight was in the 2020/21 season, when the promoted side celebrated a 2-1 win against Bilbao – a good omen ahead of Friday’s match?
Last matches of Valladolid:
La Liga
11/03/2023 – Elche 1 – 1 Real Valladolid
05/03/2023 – Real Valladolid 2 – 1 Espanyol
26/02/2023 – Celta Vigo 3 – 0 Real Valladolid
18/02/2023 – Real Betis 2 – 1 Real Valladolid
13/02/2023 – Real Valladolid 0 – 0 Osasuna Pamplona
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
Athletic Bilbao are currently in free fall. The Basques have lost four of their last five competitive matches and have already been eliminated from the Copa del Rey 2023. In the league, on the other hand, the Basques have lost their starting place for the international competition and are now only a runner-up in La Liga.
As ninth in the table, Bilbao are currently separated by five points from sixth-placed FC Villarreal. Friday’s game against Valladolid is therefore all the more important, especially as another defeat in the worst-case scenario would also lead to the gap to the red zone shrinking. Bilbao are still seven points away from the relegation places in the Spanish top flight.
If the lions from the Basque country can extend their lead and thus also minimise the gap to an international starting place, betting odds of 2.10 are paid out for a bet on the Basque guests in Valladolid vs. Athletic Bilbao. In the first half of the season, Bilbao beat Real Valladolid 3-0.
Is the Basques’ form crisis worsening?
Athletic Bilbao have only three wins away from home in a total of twelve league games this season. With a record of 3-4-5, the Basques are not among the strongest clubs away from home. In the last six away games in the league, they have even suffered four defeats. Only against Valencia could Bilbao win a league match away from home in this period.
However, bettors who would like to make a prediction on Valladolid vs. Athletic Bilbao can pick up betting odds of up to 2.10 on the visitors from the Basque country.
Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde will have to do without a total of four players for the upcoming league match against. Compared to the starting eleven that narrowly missed out on a point against FC Barcelona last week, Bilbao are not expected to make any major changes.
Last matches of Athletic Bilbao:
La Liga
13/03/2023 – Athletic Bilbao 0 – 1 FC Barcelona
06/03/2023 – Rayo Vallecano 0 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
Copa del Rey
02/03/2023 – Osasuna Pamplona 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
La Liga
26/02/2023 – Athletic Bilbao 2 – 3 Girona
20/02/2023 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
Valladolid – Athletic Bilbao Direct comparison / H2H record
This is the 101st time the two clubs have met. Bilbao lead the direct comparison against Valladolid with a record of 45-27-27. The Basques have lost only one of their last five league encounters against the White Violets. During that period, Bilbao scored in every match against Valladolid. The Lions have even scored three goals against the “Pucelanos” in the first leg of the current season, keeping their clean sheet.
Valladolid – Athletic Bilbao Tip
Bilbao have had a mixed start to the second half of the season so far, winning just two of their six matches in the second half. The Basques have even gone winless four times in a row and have lost three of these four league games. It therefore remains to be seen how the traditional club from the Basque Country will perform against Real Valladolid.
The Basques’ opponents on Friday were already winless against last-place Elche last week. In addition, the “Pucelanos” will also have to overcome the personnel worries in the squad for the upcoming league match.
If Bilbao take the momentum from the first leg with them, the Basques can certainly expect a win in the upcoming league match. The Lions already beat Valladolid 3-0 in the first leg. With a bet of four units, we therefore also dare to bet on the Basque guests in the second-round duel between Valladolid vs. Athletic Bilbao.
