Valencia well aware of threat posed by Gent

• Valencia take on Gent on back of matchday two victory at Lyon
• Valencia coach Nuno Espírito Santo: "These two matches will be decisive"
• Gent have lost only once – matchday two – in 15 outings in all competitions this term
• Hein Vanhaezebrouck concedes Gent will not play their usual possession game
• Valenica opt to rest Álvaro Negredo, Rodrigo De Paul and Rúben Vezo

Possible lineup
Valencia: Doménech; Cancelo, Santos, Mustafi, Gayà; Fuego, Parejo, Gomes, Feghouli; Piatti, Alcácer.
Out: Abdennour (hamstring), Ryan (knee), Diego Alves (knee),  Negredo (rested), De Paul (rested), Vezo (rested)

Gent: Sels; Asare, Johansson, Mitrović, Nielsen; Neto, Kums; Simon, Milicevic, Matton; Depoitre.
Out: Gershon (knee), Dejaegere (suspended)
Doubtful: Simon (illness)

Nuno Espírito Santo, Valencia coach
We always respect our opponents and never underestimate them. Gent have good players and are a compact team. They are very well organised in defence and we know they are going to put pressure on us. Our victory in Lyon [on matchday two] was quite important, but these two matches will be even more decisive for the future of the group. We have it in our own hands.

Hein Vanhaezebrouck, Gent coach
Valencia play with great technique. All their players want the ball. We know it will be pretty difficult but nothing is impossible. To play in front of 55,000 people will be special. We are the team that has most possession of the ball in Belgium, but the Spanish team will have more here. But winning is the most important thing, not who has the most possession.

Weekend results
Valencia 3-0 Málaga (Charles og 19, André Gomes 33, Parejo 88pen)
Valencia moved into the top half of the Liga with a dominant showing. They struck first when Charles headed Pablo Piatti's free-kick into his own net, then in the 33rd minute André Gomes doubled the advantage with an impressive solo effort. To make matters worse for Málaga, Jaume Doménech saved Duda's penalty. Valencia had their own spot kick in the 88th minute after 19-year-old substitute Danilo Barbosa was fouled – and Daniel Parejo converted.

Mouscron-Péruwelz 1-2 Gent (Dussenne 7; Depoitre 69, Kums 78pen)
Gent came from a goal down on Friday to earn their second away victory of the season and maintain their unbeaten league record. Noë Dussenne gave the hosts an early lead but Laurent Depoitre levelled midway through the second half and Sven Kums's 78th-minute penalty clinched it for the visitors.

Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Valencia: WLWWLD
Gent: WWLWWW

Did you know?
The clubs met previously in the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup when Valencia won the second leg 2-0 at Mestalla through goals from David Villa and Patrick Kluivert following a goalless draw in Ghent; find out more in our extensive match background.