Mexican coach JavierAguirre made his debut with Valencia on the last day of LaLiga, when the red and white team faced Racing de Santander in a match that ended 2‑2. The following day, Valencia will have its first match under Aguirre's command against Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla, which marks the coach's return to the competition after his time at Mallorca in the 2024 Cup final.
Athletic, which had been left without positive results against teams with a compact defensive style, suffered draws in its matches against Elche and Alavés before the break. In both games, the red and white team failed to overcome the low-block structure used by their rivals, leaving Athletic in a testing position before facing the “Aguirre method.”
During his first day with Valencia, Aguirre opted for a five-player defense at the start of the match, with Maffeo and Gayá on the flanks and Diakhaby, DeHaas and Pepelu in the center. The plan did not give the expected results and, at half-time, Diakhaby was replaced by Danjuma. Based on observations from the week, Valencia will likely begin their match against Athletic with a back four of defenders, suggesting a tactical adjustment on the part of the Mexican coach.
An additional curiosity is that Aguirre will break a historical tradition of the Mestalla by changing the side of the bench. Valencia had always occupied the position on the left, but the new coach has decided to position himself on the right side, just as he did when he coached Mallorca. This change of sides will be the first time that Valencia appear with the roles exchanged in their own stadium.
Athletic, who have been forced to overcome defensive blocks in recent games, will have to adapt to Aguirre's style of play, which combines solid defense with tactical flexibility. The result of this matchup will be an important indicator of how Valencia will adjust to the new management and whether Athletic will be able to overcome the defensive barrier that has cost them success in previous matches. The next day, Mestalla fans will be able to see how Aguirre's first duel in LaLiga unfolds and how the rojiblancos react to Athletic's challenge.