Team News
Valencia will likely field an almost identical side as to the one which escaped from the Britannia Stadium with a narrow win last week. Hedwiges Maduro, Paco Alcacer and Sergio Canales remain absent due to injury, while the only player to have picked up an injury since the first leg was Argentine midfielder Ever Banega, who almost comically was left with a double fracture after his car ran over his foot at a petrol station earlier in the week.
Like Valencia, Stoke City will also field a side which will look rather similar to the one that featured in the first leg. The good news for the Potters is that Matthew Upson returns from suspension, and could take part in the game. While the bad news is that Dean Whitehead remains in doubt for the game after sustaining a shin injury last week.
Form
Los Che obtained a 1-0 victory over Stoke last week thanks to a spectacular long-range drive from Mehmet Topal, and will surely hope to make the most of their advantage at the Estadio Mestalla. But since that valuable victory they were on the wrong end of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in La Liga, after conceding four goals from magical Argentine attacker Lionel Messi and another from Xavi Hernandez. The result was a reality check for Valencia, but there is no doubt that Stoke will be much more assessable opposition than the Catalans.
Since their narrow defeat to Valencia last week, Stoke returned to winning ways against Crawley Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. The Potters won the game 2-0 to put an end to a worrying five-game winless run in all competitions.
Players to Watch
Pablo Piatti - The skilful Argentine got on the score-sheet in the heavy defeat to Barcelona last Sunday, and will be expected to play a key role in Valencia’s attempt to reach the round of 16 stage of the competition.
Peter Crouch - The lanky striker may have failed to find the back of the net in six meetings with Spanish sides, but his aerial presence in the box could prove vital as the visitors look to pull off an upset at the Mestalla.
Prediction
Valencia have the edge over their rivals after the first leg result, and are expected to seal passage into the following round of the Europa League without even breaking a sweat. On current form, Stoke don’t appear to have what it takes to overturn the deficit.
The Verdict:
Valencia 2-0 Stoke
