Valencia seeking vital victory

By Graham Hunter in Valencia

If the task facing Valencia CF and Werder Bremen on the final day of Group G is complicated then at least the arithmetic is not.

No room for error
Valencia, the UEFA Cup holders, must defeat Werder Bremen 1-0 or by two clear goals or else they will exit the UEFA Champions League and, somewhat unwillingly, be forced to defend the trophy they won so gloriously last season. In that situation then Thomas Schaaf’s side, who won the first meeting between the sides 2-1, would reach the Champions League knockout stages for the first time.

Lead lost
But beyond the immediate challenge for both clubs there is special motivation for Valencia against the German outfit. Claudio Ranieri's side started their season in exceptional form but, from the point at which their 1-0 lead on Matchday 2 was transformed into a 2-1 defeat at the Weserstadion, everything seemed go wrong for Spain's champions.

Poor run
Form and luck deserted them at the same time and a series of defeats saw them plummet down the Primera División and exit the Copa del Rey, with a debate even springing up in the Spanish media over Ranieri's job. However, their fightback has been impressive and they have won their last three league games and also overcame RSC Anderlecht in the Champions League on Matchday 5.

Hard work rewarded
Now they can complete their comeback with a win by the requisite margin and concentrate on domestic business until the European season resumes in February. "Everybody was hit very badly when we lost [5-1] at home to [FC] Internazionale [Milano] in the middle of our bad run but the players and I simply put our heads down and worked for this moment," said Ranieri. "Now our destiny is in our own hands.

Valencia superiority
"Now we need to play very intelligently against a top-quality team, keep a clean sheet and score the goal or goals we need," the Valencia coach continued. "I have a lot of respect for Bremen but my belief is that when we and they are at 100 per cent then Valencia are the better side."

Vicente boost
Valencia are boosted by the inclusion of winger Vicente Rodríguez, who has not played since 29 September due to an ankle problem. Left-back Fabio Aurelio is also fit again after a knee injury while Roberto Ayala is close to returning too. Midfielders Mohamed Sissoko (ankle) and Miguel Ángel Angulo (thigh) miss out.

Six-goal flourish
Bremen warmed up in impressive fashion, defeating SC Freiburg 6-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday despite the absence of Ivan Klasnic, who has scored five times in this season's Champions League. As Ranieri acknowledged: "The problem is that I don't believe we are quite right while their result at the weekend proves that they are. Let's just hope that by winning 6-0 they have run out of goals!"

'Perfect preparation'
Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf may have Klasnic available again – the striker faces a late test on a shoulder injury with Nelson Valdez standing by – and promises that his team will come to attack. "There could not have been a better build-up than winning 6-0 but we are all aware that Freiburg were not Valencia in the Mestalla," he smiled.

Attacking style
"However, we will not change our tactics and try to put up a defensive wall in front of our goal. This is not our style and it's not how we became champions of Germany. We have become something of a goal machine and we will play to score and to win in Valencia."