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Athletic Bilbao can take a big step toward raising the Copa del Rey for a 24th time when it takes on Valencia in the second leg of a Copa del Rey semifinal on Wednesday at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia. Athletic's 23 Copa del Rey titles rank second all-time, behind only Barcelona's 31. However, the Lions have not won the championship since 1984. Meanwhile, Valencia has won the Copa del Rey eight times, which ranks fifth all-time. The Bats last hoisted the trophy in 2019. The two sides enter Wednesday's match tied 1-1 in aggregate after the first leg in Bilbao on Feb. 10. 

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Athletic has been installed as a slight +155 favorite in the latest Athletic vs. Valencia odds, while Valencia is +174. A draw is +195 and the over-under for total goals is 2.5. Before making any Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao picks or Copa del Rey predictions, you must see what renowned soccer bettor Jon Eimer has to say.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, Eimer has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. The Indiana-based handicapper compiled a winning record of 260-133-1 with more than 90 units of profit for his community on various platforms over a recent two-month stretch.

Now, Eimer has broken down Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao from all sides and just locked in his picks and Copa del Rey predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. 

Why you should back Athletic Bilbao 

The Lions face one of La Liga's worst defenses in Valencia. The Bats have conceded 42 goals in 26 matches in league play. Only Alaves (44 goals), which is second-to-last in the La Liga table, and last-place Levante (51) have conceded more.

In addition, Athletic Bilbao has shown flashes of brilliance this season. Marcelino Garcia Toral's men have reached the Spanish Super Cup final and knocked off both Real Madrid and Barcelona on their way to the Copa del Rey semifinals. They're attempting to reach the Copa del Rey final for the third straight year after losing to Real Sociedad in 2020 and to Barcelona in '21.

Why you should back Valencia

Valencia has enough offensive firepower to give Athletic trouble. Jose Bordalas' side has scored 38 goals in La Liga this season. That ranks seventh in La Liga and is nine more than Athletic has scored.

In addition, Goncalo Guedes is in the midst of his best goal-scoring season. The 25-year-old from Portugal has scored nine goals in 25 games. That is tied for ninth in La Liga and already is one more than he had in his best goal-scoring season, in 2014-15, with Benfica.

How to make Athletic Bilbao vs. Valencia picks

Eimer has analyzed both teams and come up with two picks for the Copa del Rey semifinal between Valencia and Athletic. He has identified several factors why these wagers will cash. He's sharing these picks only at SportsLine.

Who wins Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Athletic Bilbao vs. Valencia, all from the soccer expert who has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the world, and find out.