Phil Kitromilides and Gaizka Mendieta commentate the Valencia v Athletic Bilbao La Liga match

The Spanish La Liga (Primera) match of 2026, Valencia against Athletic Bilbao, airs on 17 October 2026, with a UK broadcast start of 20:00. The event runs through LaLiga TV's international channels, offered in Disney+ UK & Ireland (£/€/geo/R) alongside LaLiga TV International HD, so viewers across Britain can follow the action live from start to finish.

The commentary is delivered through LaLiga's world feed, with Phil Kitromilides taking the main commentary and Gaizka Mendieta filling the co-commentary role. Their world feed partnership means the pair commentate together from a shared source, bringing their usual analysis to a match that joins two teams with contrasting reputations in the Spanish La Liga circuit.

Phil Kitromilides

Phil Kitromilides is a familiar figure in La Liga commentary, and he has been seen promoting broadcasts directly from the field. On X recently he invited viewers to join his live commentary of a Valencia match, posting: "Saturday Night Football in @LaLiga comes to you from Mestalla. Valencia vs Athletic Club. Join me for live commentary." That phrasing mirrors the kind of Valencia pairing featured in tonight's match.

Beyond promotion, he has been active in analysis. Recent posts have seen him weigh in on the poor performance of Real Madrid, questioning "what is going wrong" for a team that had launched on another lackluster start. He has also commented on the impact of La Liga's suspension and the loss of form by a player he refers to as Vinicius Júnior, drawing attention to how such developments affect the broader Spanish La Liga scene.

Gaizka Mendieta

Gaizka Mendieta has a strong connection to the very teams in tonight's match. He is known as "The Valencia Bat" and has spoken of reliving "magical Champions League nights," showing his support for Valencia CF while also working as a television commentator. That background makes his co-commentary role tonight particularly fitting for a match that opens with Valencia.

He has also reflected on the sport's biggest moments, remembering Spain's "epic" 4-3 victory and taking part in a post-match interview on the occasion. His combination of personal ties to Valencia and a broad appreciation for La Liga's highlights positions him well to add colour to tonight's Valencia v Athletic Bilbao pairing.

For a reference point on his profile and stats, see the Gaizka Mendieta Commentator Profile & Stats on ICDb.

Article generated: 17 October 2026, 20:01 GMT