Valencia coach Rino Gattuso drew positives after defeat at Athletic Bilbao.
Alex Berenguer's 42nd-minute strike sealed a first win of the season for Athletic.
Gattuso later said: "It is not at all easy to play at a stadium like San Mamés.
"I want to congratulate the San Mamés crowd: It's the first time I've come here, I never had the opportunity to visit here during my time as a player and it's a stadium with an atmosphere that you feel a lot.
"It's not easy to play here, but I really liked the way the team played despite the defeat. This was a game that we prepared very well. We knew that they have very fast players, who play on the counterattack and, whilst it is true that at times we had difficulties, I really liked the way that we played."