LaLiga: Valencia Frustrated Again in Goalless Draw With Athletic Club
Valencia and Athletic Club played out a dour 0-0 draw at Mestalla as both sides' stuttering starts to the season continued.
Valencia held again as Athletic Club grind out goalless draw at Mestalla...
Valencia remain unbeaten but winless under new manager Javier Aguirre, who watched his side play out a goalless draw with Athletic Club at Mestalla, the second 0-0 in a row for Edin Terzic's side.
Looking to impress in their first home match under Aguirre, Valencia started with plenty of heart and put Athletic under pressure early on, but were unable to turn it into clear-cut chances.
With their away game at Rayo Vallecano abandoned after less than 15 minutes last weekend and having not completed 90 minutes since mid-September, the visitors came into this match the fresher side. Yet having weathered the early storm, they created little more than a Johaneko Louis-Jean shot which deflected well wide following an impressive mazy run.
With these two teams combining for just 13 goals across their first seven matches this term, it was no surprise that the half-hour mark passed without either goalkeeper being tested. Inaki Williams failed to hit the target from a promising position for the Bilbao side, while Jose Gaya opted to pick out Hugo Duro rather than go for the gaping goal himself at the other end.
Louis-Jean saw a curling effort drop just wide, and Duro was unable to direct a headed chance, before finally, in the 44th minute, Stole Dimitrievski in Los Che's goal had to turn a Williams effort behind for a corner, as the striker did well to turn his man and work the goalkeeper despite the tight angle.
Valencia were looking for a first home win this season at the fifth time of asking, and when Arnaut Danjuma was played through on goal seven minutes after the restart, their fans must have thought it was finally on the way, only for the Dutchman to side-foot the ball agonisingly past the post.
Confidence was building again around Mestalla just before the hour mark, even though David Otorbi's shot was blocked by the backtracking Louis-Jean after taking the ball around the goalkeeper.
Otorbi was not lacking in self-belief either, as he expertly took down a ball over the top before thrashing a low shot across goal which Unai Simon could only watch drift just wide.
Lehoiak could do little to stop the continuing waves of Valencia attack, as Gaya got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Javi Guerra, whose effort was blocked by the legs of Simon.
Guerra went for placement with his next effort after being afforded time in the area to set himself, but could only place the ball straight at the goalkeeper.
FT: #ValenciaAthletic 0-0 Defense wins the day in a goalless draw at Mestalla! 🛡️ #LALIGAEASPORTS https://t.co/dK4RPjfhz8
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) October 17, 2026
With no late winner at either end, Valencia avoided losing four in a row at home for the first time in a decade, while Athletic Club have already matched their longest unbeaten run from last season, although that five-match streak included three wins, compared to just two this time around.
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