Athletic return after 28 days to face struggling Valencia in Aguirre's first home game

Athletic Club are back in action 28 days after their last appearance. The Basque side visit Valencia on Sunday at 21:00 with Adrián Cordero Vega as referee, in a match shaped by the needs of both teams and by Javier Aguirre's first home game in charge of the home side. For Terzic's men, the goal is a third win of the season and a result that keeps them within reach of the top half before a demanding stretch of fixtures.

• Athletic have not played for 28 days after their Vallecas match against Rayo was called off in the 13th minute.
• Javier Aguirre makes his Mestalla debut after replacing Carlos Corberán in the Valencia dugout.
• Valencia sit in the relegation zone with 5 points from 24 and have yet to win at home this season.
• This is Athletic's last visit to the current Mestalla before Valencia move to the Nou Mestalla.
• The Basque team face six matches in just over three weeks before the next international break.

What is at stake for Athletic in Mestalla after a month out

The Bilbao side play their first match in almost a month after the game against Rayo Vallecano was suspended with only 13 minutes on the clock due to objects thrown onto the pitch. Since facing Alavés at San Mamés before the long international break, Athletic have not been involved in a competitive fixture. Now they return with a demanding trip to Mestalla, looking for a third victory of the campaign after wins at Balaídos against Celta and at home against Atlético.

The urgency is clear. Terzic's team are in mid-table but need to start collecting three points at a time to avoid losing ground. San Mamés has already cost them seven points with a defeat to Sevilla on the opening day and draws against Elche and Alavés. The schedule only adds pressure: on Wednesday they must play their postponed match against Levante, while the Rayo fixture still has no confirmed date. Returning from Mestalla with eleven points would soften the margin for error in a packed week.

Aguirre's Valencia stuck between need and a historic home slump

Valencia are enduring one of their most difficult seasons in recent memory. They sit in the relegation zone with just 5 points from 24 available. One win against Alavés, two draws with Celta and Racing, and five defeats to Betis, Deportivo, Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Sociedad paint a grim picture that has already cost Carlos Corberán his job. In comes Javier Aguirre, an experienced coach known for building tough, well-organised sides, who made his debut with a draw at El Sardinero.

The Mexican takes charge of his first game at Mestalla, a ground that has offered Valencia little comfort this season. The team have collected just one point at home and have lost three consecutive matches there. If Athletic win, Valencia would set their worst home run in a single season. With that burden and the need to climb away from danger, Aguirre must decide whether to stick with his familiar five-man back line that has frustrated Athletic before or take more risks in front of his own fans.

Athletic's final visit to the historic Mestalla

Sunday marks Athletic's last appearance at Valencia's current stadium. The club will move to the Nou Mestalla next season, a project that was halted in 2009 and resumed in 2025. The current ground, the oldest in Spain's top flight, has hosted 100 meetings between these two teams. It is a farewell with symbolic weight for a fanbase that has turned Mestalla into a fortress over the decades, even if this campaign has fallen far short of those standards.

Terzic keeps Iñaki Williams up front with Laporte the main doubt

At Vallecas, before the match was abandoned, the German coach had already shown his hand. He lined up with Unai Simón in goal; Areso, Yeray, Paredes and Yuri in defence; Gere and Galarreta as the midfield double pivot, with Robert Navarro, Canales and Berenguer behind Iñaki Williams as the lone striker. The Ghana international has been chosen to lead the attack in the last five games and is expected to continue in that role at Mestalla.

The main question mark is in central defence. Laporte was a late withdrawal from the squad for the Rayo game as a precaution over workload after playing three full matches with his national team. He returned to outdoor training on Thursday and Terzic sounded optimistic about his availability, though whether he starts or begins on the bench will only be clear before kick-off. Aguirre, for his part, is without injured trio Foulquier, Copete and Sadiq. His likely starting line-up features Dimitrievski, Maffeo, Diakhaby, De Haas, Gayà, Pepelu, Guido, Raba, Javi Guerra, Danjuma and Hugo Duro.

Six matches in three weeks await Athletic after Valencia

The trip to Valencia opens a demanding run for the Basque club, who will play six matches in just over three weeks before the next league break. Alongside five league outings, Athletic face their opening Copa del Rey tie against AE Prat in Hospitalet. That number could rise to seven if the postponed Rayo-Athletic game is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4. It is a heavy load in a season in which Athletic compete in only two competitions, making squad management as important as results.