UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Valencia out to stay on track for last 16

Coach Unai Emery hopes Valencia CF will justify their billing as favourites when they take on bottom side KRC Genk needing a home victory to stay in control of their Group E destiny.

Unai Emery knows there are small margins between success and failure
Unai Emery knows there are small margins between success and failure ©Getty Images

Having already been held once by KRC Genk in Group E, Valencia CF are determined not to drop more points against the Belgian club as they look to enhance their qualification prospects. Visiting coach Mario Been believes it is win or bust for his side, who prop up the section on two points.

Valencia
Coach Unai Emery
The difficulty we will find in tomorrow's game is that both teams know each other very well. The first time we met [on matchday one] we were the favourites but didn't win; tomorrow we will be favourites again, and we need to show why we are out on the field.

The first point of interest is that there are more media here than against Real Madrid [on Saturday]. Why? Because we are in the Champions League. Teams earn their place in the Champions League and therefore no opponent is easy. We have two games to play and we have to win tomorrow to keep things in our own hands and then think about the next step.

We would like to enjoy a good game and for the fans to be a part of a victory. Hopefully the rain will relent and the fans will get behind us.

Weekend result
Saturday: Valencia 2-3 Real Madrid CF (Soldado 75 83; Benzema 20, Ramos 72, Ronaldo 79)
Alves; Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruíz, Alba (Aduriz 83); Feghouli (Pablo Hernández 73), Albelda, Tino Costa, Parejo (Jonas 61), Mathieu; Soldado

• Valencia's four-match winning run ended as Madrid became the first team to win at Mestalla this term. Diego Alves, ever-present in Group E thus far, made his first Liga start of the season as regular No1 Vicente Guaita had a minor hand injury.

Team news
Ricardo Costa (torn left hamstring) and Éver Banega (strained knee ligaments) are expected to miss Valencia's two remaining games after picking up injuries this month. Sergio Canales and Hedwiges Maduro are long-term casualties.

Genk
Coach Mario Been
Valencia are a high-quality team and have a dangerous striker in Soldado. They're in a good position in the league and put in a good performance against Real Madrid, a match we studied. Our intention is to play an attacking game because that's what we like to do. If we lose we will say goodbye to the Champions League. We have to think positive as there's nothing to lose.

Weekend result
Saturday 19 November: KRC Genk 3-0 KVC Westerlo (Vossen 66, Barda 69, De Bruyne 80)
Köteles; Vanden Borre, Nadson, Hyland, Pudil; Buffel, Camus (Limbombe 60), Tőzsér (Peeters 83), De Bruyne; Vossen, Barda (Benteke 83)

• Genk extended their unbeaten league run to four matches with victory against a Westerlo side who had Stef Wils sent off on 12 minutes.

Team news
Abel Masuero has been out since picking up a calf muscle injury in training on 25 October while David Hubert and Jeroen Simaeys are sidelined.

Match fact
Genk have yet to win in five matches against Spanish opponents but four of those encounters ended all-square. The exception was the away game with Real Madrid in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League group stage which they lost 6-0.

Selected for you