Basel hoping for second coming

By Pavle Gognidze

FC Basel must cut out the errors if they are to take something from their UEFA Champions League home match against Group B leaders Valencia CF on Tuesday.

Six points enough
The Swiss champions suffered a 6-2 away defeat against the Spanish side on Matchday Three, and need the points from the return game, with Liverpool FC battling them for second place and progression to the second group stage. Both Basel and Liverpool have four points while Valencia are on nine, but the simple truth is that two home wins against Valencia tonight and Liverpool on Matchday Six will take Basel through.

Gross confident
"Our goal remains to finish second in this group," said Basel coach Christian Gross. "We have the ambition to take our revenge against Valencia." Although his side are up against a team with a 100 per cent record, Gross added: "I'm convinced that my players will make these words come true even though I'm absolutely aware that Valencia are one the best teams in the world."

'Show our presence'
Gross said the rout in Spain, when Valencia scored four times in an 18-minute first-half spell, was due to a lack of concentration at key moments. "It is essential that we clearly reduce the number of our own mistakes and that we show our presence right from the start."

'Tremendous support'
The coach added that the Saint Jakob stadium fans would also have a major part to play. "I hope the atmosphere in the stadium will be great and, with the tremendous support of our fantastic fans, I think we could have a successful game." The statistics are not on Basel's side: they have never beaten Spanish opposition in nine matches, suffering seven defeats, while Valencia have never lost against a team from Switzerland, winning five of their six encounters.

Shoulder injury
Valencia know a win would make certain of their place in the next stage, although their preparations have not been as straightforward as they would have liked. Coach Rafael Benítez is missing Argentinian playmaker Pablo Aimar after he suffered a dislocated shoulder in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Club Atlético de Madrid. Benítez has to decide whether to play Mista or Juan Sánchez alongside John Carew. One piece of positive news is the return of Kily González from injury, while David Albelda has been given a rest.

Kily back
The weekend draw saw Valencia relinquish top spot in Spain and Basel, who warmed up with a 6-0 domestic triumph against FC St. Gallen on Saturday after a Julio Rossi hat-trick, will be encouraged by the way Atlético forced their way back after allowing Rubén Baraja to give Valencia an early lead.

'Play our game'
Turning his attention to tonight's match, Benítez said: "It will be a different game from the 6-2. We hope to play our game and impose ourselves on them. Then we will see how many goals we can get. The important thing is to play well. The sooner we can qualify the better."

Little danger
Benítez warned that it was important for his players to be "in the right frame of mind". On the evidence of their Champions League displays so far this season and with the second group stage within touching distance there seems little danger of Valencia taking the foot off the pedal just yet.