Valencia will attempt to begin their Europa League Group A campaign with three points when they welcome Premier League outfit Swansea City on Thursday.

The Spanish side made it to the first knockout round in the Champions League last season before losing to Paris Saint-Germain, but they missed out on a spot in Europe's leading competition this time around after finishing fifth in La Liga in 2012-13.

Swansea, meanwhile, earned the right to play in the Europa League after winning the English League Cup last season. However, this is the first time that the two sides will meet in a competitive match and indeed the first time that Swansea have faced Spanish opposition.

The Swans are without a European away win in six attempts, but Valencia have not won in Europe in 2013. The Spanish side will also enter the match on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis at the weekend – a result that left them 16th in the La Liga table – while Swansea picked up a credible 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday evening.

The hosts have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match and could name the same team that lost to Betis on Sunday. However, Sergio Canales, Sofiane Feghouli and Andres Guardado will all be hopeful of earning a spot in the lineup.

Meanwhile, Swansea are expected to continue with Jonjo Shelvey despite his eventful performance against Liverpool on Monday. Jonathan de Guzman could come into the team at the expense of Nathan Dyer, but left-back Ben Davies is once more expected to keep Neil Taylor on the sidelines.

Recent form

Valencia: WWLLL

Swansea: WLLWD

Possible starting lineups

Valencia: Alves; Pereira, Costa, Mathieu, Bernat; Canales, Parejo, Banega; Postiga, Jonas, Pabon

Swansea: Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Chico, Davies; Britton, De Guzman, Shelvey; Michu, Bony, Routledge

Sports Mole says: 2-1

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