Valencia will be looking for their second victory in this season's Champions League when they welcome French outfit Lille to the Mestalla on Tuesday night.
Los Che have collected four points from their three Group H matches to sit third in the section, while Lille are bottom having picked up just a single point from their three fixtures this term.
Match preview
© Reuters
One win, one draw and one defeat - that is how Valencia have performed in Group H thus far. The Spanish outfit started with an impressive 1-0 win at Chelsea but were brought back down to earth at the start of October when they suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Ajax.
Valencia did manage to pick up a point away to Lille on October 23, though, and Julen Lopetegui will feel that his team will be in a strong position if they can follow up that result with a win in this match.
Los Che will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 win at Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, but a disappointing season to date has left them down in 11th position in Spain's top flight.
It is easy to forget that Valencia reached the Champions League final in both 2000 and 2001; they have not been present in the round of 16 since 2012-13, though, and face a battle to finish in the top two with Ajax and Chelsea both collecting six points from their three matches thus far.
It will actually be the first time that these two teams have met in Spain since the group stages of the 2012-13 Champions League. Brazilian forward Jonas scored twice in a 2-0 home win on that occasion, while Valencia also beat Lille on home soil during the group stages of the 2009-10 Europa League.
© Reuters
Boasting just a single point from their three Group H matches thus far, it is going to take some effort from Lille to make themselves challengers for a spot in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.
The Ligue 1 side opened their campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Ajax before suffering a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea at the start of October. They did manage to pick up a point at home to Valencia last time out, though, and a victory in Spain on Tuesday night might well put them back into the mix.
Lille, who finished second in Ligue 1 last season, are competing in the group stage of the Champions League for the sixth time, but it is their first appearance since 2012-13. Only on one occasion have they managed to book their spot in the first knockout round, which occurred back in 2006-07.
What's more, Les Dogues have won only two of their 12 matches against La Liga opposition, suffering five defeats in the process. When considering that Valencia have only lost four of their 25 matches against French clubs, the omens are not exactly terrific for Lille heading into this match.
That said, Christophe Galtier's side have made a decent start to their 2019-20 Ligue 1 campaign, with 18 points from 12 matches leaving them in fifth position, just two points off second-placed Angers.
Valencia form: WLD
Lille form: LLD
Team News
© Reuters
Valencia have a number of injury problems at the moment with Cristiano Piccini, Goncalo Guedes, Kevin Gameiro, Carlos Soler and Francis Coquelin all unavailable for selection.
Jose Gaya has recently returned from a hamstring issue, but Lopetegui has been forced to select a largely under-strength XI in recent weeks due to his injury problems.
The home side will also be without the services of Mouctar Diakhaby following his red card against Lille last month, meaning that Ezequiel Garay should come into the team at centre-back.
Ferran Torres and Denis Cheryshev should both start in the wide positions with Maxi Gomez and Rodrigo Moreno in the final third of the field.
As for Lille, midfielder Renato Sanches is still on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, while an ongoing leg injury is expected to keep Timothy Weah out of action once again.
Victor Osimhen was a second-half substitute against Marseille at the weekend but should return to the XI here, while Jose Fonte and Luiz Araujo are also expected to feature from the onset.
Valencia possible starting lineup: Cillessen; Wass, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya; Torres, Parejo, Kondogbia, Cheryshev; Gomez, Rodrigo
Lille possible starting lineup: Maignan; Fonte, Djalo, Gabriel; Bradaric, Soumare, Andre, Celik; Araujo, Osimhen, Yazici
We say: Valencia 1-0 Lille
There is not an awful lot between the two teams, and it would not be a surprise to see another draw take place. Home advantage could be key for Valencia, though, and we are just tipping the Spanish side to triumph by the narrowest of margins.
No Data Analysis info
Germany
Switzerland
Scotland
Hungary
Spain
Italy
Albania
Croatia
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Netherlands
France
Poland
Austria
Romania
Slovakia
Belgium
Ukraine
Turkey
Portugal
Czech Republic
Georgia
