Koeman confident Valencia will prevail

Valencia CF go looking for the win that only one visiting team has managed in 23 UEFA Champions League matches at Stamford Bridge to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup. And, despite a poor run of form, coach Ronald Koeman believes they can do it.

English experience
Victory away to Liverpool FC as SL Benfica coach, and a draw at Arsenal FC while in charge of PSV Eindhoven, give the Dutchman confidence as he prepares his side to try to dismantle the Chelsea FC fortress. "It's a pleasure to play in England against English teams because it's always a good atmosphere," he said. "You do get opportunities in these games and I am confident we can take something out of the game."

Rosenborg defeats
After 20 minutes on Matchday 2 it looked as if it was all falling into place for the Spanish club. After winning their Group B opener at FC Schalke 04, they were leading Chelsea 1-0. But that was as good as it got as Valencia eventually succumbed to the London visitors, and then lost back-to-back fixtures with Rosenborg BK, before an uninspiring 0-0 draw at home to Schalke two weeks ago. That put paid to their hopes of reaching the next stage and leaves them needing to better Schalke's result against the Norwegian team to continue their European adventure. "It is very important for the club that we go into the UEFA Cup," Koeman added.

Weekend tests
Both sides have crucial games looming at the weekend. Valencia, in seventh position in the Primera División, ten points adrift of Real Madrid CF, play host to FC Barcelona; Chelsea, who lie third in the Premier League, visit leaders Arsenal FC hoping to claw back a three-point deficit. The difference on Tuesday is that Chelsea have already guaranteed their progress as group winners while Valencia have it all to do – their task a sizeable one considering they are without captain David Albelda after his red card against Schalke, and given they have failed to score in their last four outings.

Drogba out
Chelsea are missing Didier Drogba, who has had a knee operation and is expected to be out for around three weeks, and Petr Čech, although the goalkeeper returns to full training this week following a calf injury. Other senior players are likely to sit this one out as energies are conserved. Grant admits the weekend fixture is the most important on the club's immediate agenda, saying of Tuesday's match: "It's not so important because of what we have done in the group, qualifying with one game to go. But it's the Champions League and we want to perform well."

Unbeaten run
Grant pinpoints the victory at the Mestalla in October as crucial in their run of 14 unbeaten games, Chelsea having suffered just a single loss since the departure of José Mourinho. "Everybody thought Chelsea were a little bit down and would continue to be down after we lost to Manchester United [FC]," he said. "But we won in Valencia, played very well and our attitude was very good. Now we can see how important that game was."