Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction: Los Che can prey on vulnerable visitors

Valencia and Athletic Bilbao, the fifth and second-most successful clubs, respectively, in the history of the Copa del Rey, face off in the quarter-finals of the competition this Wednesday (20:00 GMT, Premier Sports 2) at the Estadio de Mestalla.

Below are my Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Julen Agirrezabala, Mouctar Diakhaby (both muscle) and Thiery Correia (hamstring) are expected to miss out again for Carlos Corberan’s Valencia.

Football Odds

As for Athletic, head coach Ernesto Valverde must make do without a long list of injured players, with Maroan Sannadi, Benat Prados Diaz, Unai Egiluz (all knee), Dani Vivian and Aymeric Laporte (both muscle) all ruled out of action, while Nico Williams (groin) is a doubt with a groin problem.

Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Odds

Valencia beat Athletic 2-0 at the Mestalla last September in La Liga, and Los Che are 9/5, or a 35.7% chance, to claim another victory in regulation time on Wednesday, while Los Leones are 7/4 (36.4%) to triumph in 90 minutes.

The draw, which would send the tie to extra time, is offered at 2/1.

Player to Receive a Card - Cesar Tarrega (VAL) @ 23/10

Valencia defender Cesar Tarrega was only introduced in the 81st minute of his side’s 2-1 defeat at Real Betis last Sunday, but he managed to work his way into the referee’s notebook, despite not making a foul.

That was the Spaniard’s seventh yellow card of the 2025/26 campaign, with six of those coming in La Liga, and the other in the Copa del Rey.

Tarrega has already matched his card tally for last season, and I’m backing him to beat it outright on Wednesday.

Today's Football Fixtures

The 23-year-old, who is averaging 1.4 fouls per 90 minutes in La Liga this season, could be tasked with marking Athletic forward Gorka Guruzeta, who is averaging 1.7 fouls won per 90 in the Spanish top flight, at the Mestalla.

Last Sunday, Guruzeta was fouled four times by Real Sociedad, who saw both of their central defenders, Jon Martin and Igor Zubeldia, booked after fouling the 29-year-old.

Remarkably, of the six centre-backs Athletic have faced over their last three league games, five have been shown a yellow card, so Tarrega will have to be careful on Wednesday.

Double Chance & Both Teams To Score - Valencia or Draw & Yes @ 13/8

Valencia have scored in each of their last 14 games since losing 4-0 at Real Madrid on November 11, and the opposition has struck in 10 of those, too.

Corberan's charges have been difficult to beat over the last few months, losing just three times since that thrashing at the Bernabeu, and they've not suffered a defeat at the Mestalla since October 25, winning two and drawing four of their six games there. Both teams have scored in all but one of those matches, too, with four ending in a 1-1 draw.

Athletic, meanwhile, have scored in nine of their last 10 games, and BTTS-Yes has been a winning selection in their last six, five of which they have failed to win in regulation time.

Los Leones have only won one of their last six away games in regulation time, and in five of those, both teams got on the scoresheet.