Pressure on as Rangers visit Valencia

Victory for Valencia CF at home to Rangers FC on Tuesday would take them above the Scottish titleholders into second place in UEFA Champions League Group C and coach Unai Emery says his team are ready to adapt should the visitors employ the defensive tactics that earned them a 0-0 draw at Manchester United FC. Rangers manager Walter Smith, meanwhile, hopes the extra pressure resulting from their good start will not tell on his side.

Unai Emery, Valencia coach
We are ready for a similar game to two weeks ago [the 1-1 draw at Rangers] but are also prepared for a different kind of game. They usually play 4-4-2 in the league and 5-4-1 in the Champions League, yet we are prepared for both, especially in terms of tactics and their changes of personnel for the Champions League.

It is a very important game for both teams. We are at home and our job is to play well and win. We want to play good football and we want our fans to enjoy it and leave the stadium happy. We have to make them feel part of the victory. I am hoping for the best-case scenario – a victory in a big Champions League game.

Walter Smith, Rangers manager
It is a very important game and both teams are aiming for second place. Valencia are at home and have a slight advantage. Looking at Valencia's latest results they may be missing players like David Villa, but it is a matter of time before they make up for that.

We are under some pressure because we have not experienced this sort of situation before, but we hope this pressure will not stop us getting through and going as far as possible in this competition.

Team news
• Valencia
Miguel (thigh) and Joaquín (ankle) returned to action at the weekend, but César Sánchez has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in training the day after Matchday 3. Sofiane Feghouli tore an adductor muscle in training on 18 October.

• Rangers
Vladímir Weiss (heel) and Maurice Edu (calf) are doubts after both were substituted at half-time against Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC on Saturday, when John Fleck made his first appearance of the season following a hamstring problem. James Beattie (hip) and Andy Webster (groin) missed the trip.

Weekend results
30/10/10 Valencia 1-1 Real Zaragoza
(Lanzaro og 43; Lanzaro 3)
Valencia have won just one of their last five games in all competitions and kept only one clean sheet in seven outings.

30/10/10 Rangers 1-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC
(Edu 11; Odhiambo 81)
Smith's side's 100% start to the Scottish Premier League season came an end but they remain unbeaten in 15 matches this term, winning 12 and drawing three. Rangers had set a record for consecutive victories at the start of a Premier League campaign – nine – with a 3-1 triumph at Celtic FC on 24 October.

Did you know?
The Scottish titleholders have lost on their last three visits to Spain where their overall record is W0 D2 L8. Rangers have scored just two goals in those ten games: Peter Løvenkrands' effort in a 1-1 draw at Villarreal CF in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League and Tommy McLean's strike in a 1-1 draw at Valencia in the 1979/80 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round.

For more information see the match background.