Maduro scheming to checkmate Genoa

Valencia CF have emphasised the need to take all three points when they put their lengthy unbeaten European run on the line against Genoa CFC next Thursday.

Invincibility
The Spanish side's 1-1 stalemate at LOSC Lille Métropole in their opening Group B encounter saw them stretch their streak of invincibility over 90 minutes in UEFA club competition to an impressive 13 matches. Following Genoa's 2-0 win against SK Slavia Praha on the same night, however, Valencia defender Hedwiges Maduro told uefa.com extending that record with a draw at the Mestalla Stadium would not be enough.

'Must win'
"It's important, because we are playing at home and we must win the game. Otherwise we will have one point and they will have six, so it's an important match," said the 24-year-old Dutch international. "They are going to be waiting for us to make mistakes, and I think it will be a little bit like a chess match. But we are also going to attack, because we want to win."

Attack minded
An instinct to be on the front foot was evident at Lille, despite coach Unai Emery opting to rotate his squad, leaving David Silva in Spain and David Villa among the substitutes at kick-off. That duo and Juan Mata, who emerged from the bench in the second half to register his team's goal in northern France, could all return against Genoa to give the whole side a boost. "It's very nice to play behind them, because they have a lot of quality and they can always score," admitted Maduro. "We have a lot of confidence in those three."

No favourites
Having added Argentinian international striker Hernán Crespo to their squad last summer, Genoa boast their own riches in attack while another new signing, Villa's promising ex-Real Zaragoza team-mate Alberto Zapater, recorded the first goal of the group stage with a superb free-kick just four minutes into Matchday 1. Gian Piero Gasperini's men have been scoring freely in domestic competition, and Valencia's Joaquín acknowledged the menace they pose. "Genoa have signed strong players," the Spanish international told uefa.com. "It will be another difficult match and it is clear we will try our best to get a good result. This is a high level and we should not feel like favourites in the group."

Lofty ambition
The cautious approach to the Genoa game belies a quiet determination behind Valencia this season, with the club harbouring lofty ambitions in domestic competitions as well as in Europe after finishing empty handed last season. "We want to achieve the maximum, to reach the final and if we are capable of getting there, then to win it," said Joaquín. "We have the team to compete in all three competitions, and we have to try everything to get as far as possible."