Valencia vs Athletic Club at Mestalla in a high-stakes 2026 Copa del Rey quarter-final, with a semi-final spot on the line. Both sides view this competition as a realistic path to silverware, especially given their inconsistent 2025-26 La Liga campaigns. The cup provides momentum, prestige and European qualification hope — making this clash even more significant.
Valencia, who advanced with a 2-0 round of 16 win over Girona, sit 14th in La Liga but face a stern test against an Athletic side that cruised past Osasuna 3-1 in their last cup outing.
Rubén Baraja’s Valencia boast a strong home cup record (unbeaten in 5), but Athletic’s away form (3 wins in 5 road cup games) and unbeaten streak in the last 4 H2H (2 wins, 2 draws) set the stage for a tense encounter in the knockout stages.
Valencia vs Athletic Club – Date, Time, Predictions, and More
| Match | Valencia vs Athletic Club |
|---|---|
| Competition | 2026 Copa del Rey – Quarter-Final |
| Date | Wednesday, 4 February 2026 |
| Kick-off | 20:00 GMT / 21:00 CET |
| Venue | Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia |
| Copa del Rey form | Valencia: WWWW Athletic Bilbao: WW |
Team News and Analysis
Valencia Team News
- Valencia head into the tie close to full strength, with Guido Rodríguez and Copete available after minor fitness concerns.
- Thierry Correia remains injured, while Dimitri Foulquier’s fitness is being monitored.
- Manager Carlos Corberán has labelled the tie “a final” internally, highlighting its importance for the club’s season.
Athletic Club Team News
- Athletic face defensive concerns: Dani Vivian injured, Paredes suspended, Yeray unavailable, forcing squad reshuffles.
- Aymeric Laporte returns to the squad after injury, offering a major boost.
- Nico Williams is a fitness doubt due to ongoing physical issues.
Head-to-Head Record
Athletic lead with 17 wins from 33 to Valencia’s 9, plus 7 draws. Lions won 3 of last 5, but Valencia unbeaten in last 2 home vs Athletic. Average 2.6 goals, overs in 55%.
All-time H2H
Valencia won the most recent league meeting 2-0 at Mestalla, though recent encounters overall have been competitive. Athletic eliminated Valencia in a previous Copa quarter-final in 2023, showing how finely balanced this rivalry can be.
| Date | Competition | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2025 | La Liga | Athletic Club 1-0 Valencia | 1-0 |
| Aug 3, 2025 | La Liga | Valencia 2-1 Athletic Club | 2-1 |
| Mar 3, 2025 | La Liga | Athletic Club 2-0 Valencia | 2-0 |
| Oct 22, 2024 | La Liga | Valencia 0-0 Athletic Club | 0-0 |
| Apr 2, 2024 | La Liga | Athletic Club 3-1 Valencia | 3-1 |
Mestalla: Valencia 4-2-3 vs. Athletic in last 9.
Predicted XI Lineups
- Valencia Possible Starting Lineup: Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Comert, Tarrega, Gaya; Rioja, Santamaria, Pepelu, Danjuma; Almeida; Sadiq
- Athletic Bilbao Possible Starting Lineup: Padilla; Areso, Paredes, Lekue, Boiro; Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta; I Williams, Gomez, Berenguer; Guruzeta
Baraja/Valverde briefings: Valencia Danjuma behind Duro; Athletic Sancet behind Guruzeta. Subs: Pérez (Valencia), Djalo (Athletic).
Key Players
Valencia
- Hugo Duro – Leading scorer and focal point in the final third.
- Pepelu – Midfield anchor controlling tempo and transitions.
Athletic Club
- Gorka Guruzeta – In strong scoring rhythm entering the tie.
- Iñaki Williams – Pace threat on counters and wide breaks.
Match Prediction
This quarter-final looks tight. Valencia’s home advantage and recent Mestalla form slightly tilt the balance, especially with Athletic missing defensive starters.
Expect a cautious game with limited chances — knockout tension could keep scoring low.
- Predicted Score: Valencia 1–0 Athletic Club
How to watch today’s Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Copa del Rey game: Live stream, TV channel, and start time
Stream Valencia vs Athletic Club live with these Copa del Rey options, La Liga official, tailored for global fans:
- Spain: Movistar+ / Copa del Rey broadcasters
- UK: Premier Sports / regional rights holders
- USA: ESPN+ (subject to fixture selection)
- Streaming: Official broadcaster apps & live-score platforms
- Check local listings before kick-off.