Two top teams in Europe lock horns when last year's finalists Bayern Munich pay a visit to Valencia in the Champions League Tuesday.
Both teams have everything to play for in this Group F tie, with the duo equal on points at the top of the table on nine. BATE Borisov are third on six points, with Lille out of the running, having failed to pick up a single point as yet.
"The team are in good spirits, and hopefully the fans will be after the game," Valncia manager Maurico Pellegrino said. "It will be a top-class match which will make big demands of us, so we hope to do well enough to get the victory.
"We are getting better every day although I am aware that there are things we still need to improve. We are on the right track and we must continue working to achieve our goals. We are a competitive team, and when we have to make changes, we will and hopefully this game will be no exception to that.
"Bayern work very well with or without the ball. We shouldn't make the same mistakes that we made in Munich. We must play a complete game to make it hard for Bayern. I would not settle for a draw when we have the chance to finish top of the group. We have nothing to fear. We must defend and attack well, and play to our strengths."
In the reverse fixture, Bayern got the better of Valencia 2-1, to hand the Spanish side their only defeat in the Champions League this campaign. The German giants have bounced back well from their shock loss to BATE earlier in the season, and will be keen to grab a firm foothold in Group F.
Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes acknowledged his side will have to keep a firm eye out for the prolific Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.
"A win or a draw might put us through, but the important thing is to qualify as group winners," Heynckes said.
"Roberto Soldado is a great player who I know very well. He is a great goalscorer but Valencia have other great offensive players like Jonas and Nelson Valdez. We are very strong defensively, but we have to be very careful."
Fernando Gago, Joao Pereira, Jeremy Mathieu and Pablo Piatti remain ruled out for Valencia, but Aly Cissocko, suspended for the game at the weekend, and Ricardo Costa are expected to return.
Franck Ribery, who missed Bayern's 1-1 draw with Nurnberg due to a bruised rib, is expected to be available, while Mario Gomez is in the squad, after coming back from the injury that has kept him out for the entire season so far.
To watch Valencia vs Bayern Munich Live Stream, click here.
Expected lineups: Valencia: Alves; Barragan, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Guardado; Albelda, Costa, Feghouli, Viera, Jonas; Soldado.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Schweinsteiger, Martinez; Muller, Kroos, Ribery; Mandzukic.
Prediction: 2-1 to Bayern
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