Valencia v Manchester United facts

Valencia will aim to end their 2018/19 UEFA Champions League campaign on a positive note as they welcome Manchester United, who are already through to the round of 16 and are hoping to snatch first place in Group H.

• The sides shared a goalless draw at Old Trafford on matchday two, but United have won three of their other four games – including, decisively, beating Young Boys last time out – to amass ten points, two fewer than section leaders Juventus.

• United will finish top if they win and Juventus do not do the same away to bottom side Young Boys.

• Valencia, meanwhile, have five points, four more than Young Boys; they will continue their European season in the UEFA Europa League in the spring.

Previous meetings
• Five of the clubs' last six fixtures – and six of nine overall – have ended in draws, the exception United's last trip to Mestalla, in the 2010/11 group stage, when Javier Hernández's late strike gave the visitors a 1-0 win.

• That was United's second victory against Valencia, whose sole win against the English club came in the sides' second meeting – a 2-1 victory at Mestalla in the 1982/83 UEFA Cup first round second leg, completing an aggregate victory by the same scoreline. United have kept clean sheets on all three of their visits to Mestalla in the UEFA Champions League.

Form guide
Valencia
• Valencia lost their first home game in the section, going down 0-2 against Juventus on matchday one, but won the next, beating Young Boys 3-1 in their fourth game having drawn 1-1 in Switzerland. A 0-1 reverse at Juve last time out confirmed them in third place.

• The United draw ended Los Blanquinegros' four-game losing streak in the UEFA Champions League. They were without a goal in five matches before scoring in both fixtures against Young Boys.

• The Spanish side have lost four of their last six home matches in the UEFA Champions League, group stage to final, and have managed two wins in seven at Mestalla (D1).

• Fourth in the Spanish Liga in 2017/18, this is Valencia's 11th UEFA Champions League group stage campaign. Finalists in both 1999/2000 and 2000/01, they have still not reached the last 16 since 2012/13.

• Valencia did not take part in UEFA club competition in either of the last two seasons. In their most recent campaign, 2015/16, they finished third in their UEFA Champions League section to move into the UEFA Europa League, where they beat Rapid Wien 10-0 on aggregate in the round of 32 before losing on away goals to fellow Spanish side Athletic Club in the round of 16 (0-1 away, 2-1 home).

• The Spanish side's home record against Premier League visitors is W8 D5 L4. The most recent encounter ended in a 0-3 defeat against Swansea in the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League group stage.

• Valencia have won only one of their last six home matches against Premier League visitors (D1 L4).

Manchester United
• United have picked up six of their ten points from Young Boys, winning 3-0 in Switzerland on matchday one before a 1-0 success on matchday five achieved through Marouane Fellaini's added-time strike. They were beaten 1-0 by Juve at Old Trafford on matchday three, but turned the tables with a 2-1 comeback success in Turin two weeks later.

• United have lost only one of their last 11 European away games (W7 D3), conceding just five goals during that period and never more than one in any match.

• The Red Devils have lost just four of their last 25 European matches, home and away (W16 D5).

• José Mourinho's side finished top of their section in 2017/18 ahead of Basel, CSKA Moskva and Benfica, but then bowed out in the first knockout round, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Sevilla (0-0 away, 1-2 home) in the last 16.

• The defeat by Sevilla and matchday two draw against Valencia mean United have now won two of their last 14 matches against Spanish clubs, with six draws and six defeats in that time.

• United have, however, lost only once in their last nine visits to Spain (W2 D6).

• Second in last season's Premier League, United are in the group stage for the second year running and the 22nd time overall – fewer only than the 23 participations of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Porto. They have now qualified for the knockout phase on 18 occasions.

Links and trivia
• Mourinho was in charge of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and won six of his ten games against Valencia, drawing the other four.

• Juan Mata made 129 league appearances for Valencia between 2007 and 2011, scoring 33 goals.

• Andreas Pereira spent 2017/18 on loan at Valencia, scoring once in 23 Liga matches.

• Eric Bailly played under Valencia coach Marcelino while at Villarreal between 2015 and 2016, making 35 Liga appearances for the club.

• Have also played in Spain:
Ander Herrera (Zaragoza 2008–11, Athletic Club 2011–14)
Alexis Sánchez (Barcelona 2011–14)
David de Gea (Atlético Madrid 2009–11)

• Herrera was sent off twice in nine appearances against Valencia for Zaragoza and Athletic.

• Have played in England:
Gabriel (Arsenal 2015–17)
Francis Coquelin (Arsenal 2011–17)
Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea 2016–18)
Rodrigo (Bolton 2010/11)

• Have played together:
Denis Cheryshev & Eric Bailly (Villarreal, 2015)

• International team-mates:
Rodrigo, José Gayà & David de Gea, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera (Spain)
Kevin Gameiro & Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial (France)
Michy Batshuayi & Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini (Belgium)
Neto & Fred, Andreas Pereira (Brazil)
Ezequiel Garay & Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero (Argentina)

Latest news

Valencia
• Before beating Ebro 2-1 in the Copa del Rey on 30 October Valencia had won only once in 13 matches this season (D10 L2), drawing five in a row before that match; they have now won five of their last nine fixtures.

• Marcelino's side needed an added-time equaliser from substitute Mouctar Diakhaby to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla on Saturday.

• Valencia reached the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 second-leg win against Ebro on 5 December, completing a 3-1 aggregate success.

• Valencia have 18 points after 15 games in the new Liga season – 16 fewer than at the same stage of 2017/18.

• Gabriel was replaced by Diakhaby just past the hour against Sevilla having suffered an injury to his right leg.

• Denis Cheryshev was replaced early in the first half of the 1-1 draw against Leganés on 20 October with a hamstring problem, returning in the second leg against Ebro.

• Cristiano Piccini (calf) was out between matchday three and the 2-0 loss at Real Madrid on 1 December.

• Jeison Murillo (ankle) has not played since 30 October and Kevin Gameiro (adductor) picked up an injury against Ebro on 5 December. Rodrigo (hamstring) was replaced at half-time on matchday five, returning to play 90 minutes against Sevilla.

Manchester United
• United have won only six of their last 16 matches in all competitions (D7 L3), drawing 2-2 at Southampton on 1 December and at home to Arsenal four days later before beating Fulham 4-1 on Saturday.

• United have conceded 26 goals in their first 16 Premier League games this season; only in 2001/02 had they let in more at this stage (27).

• Romelu Lukaku scored his first Premier League goal since 15 September at Southampton; he was also on target against Fulham, his first goal at Old Trafford since 31 March.

• Against Fulham, Juan Mata scored his 50th Premier League goal and Ashley Young his first since 28 November 2017.

• Anthony Martial has seven goals in his last eight Premier League appearances.

• Martial went off against Arsenal with a hamstring problem and missed the Fulham match.

• Alexis Sánchez is not expected to play again this year due to a hamstring injury.

• Victor Lindelöf has not played since picking up a hamstring injury in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on 24 November. Chris Smalling went off injured against Fulham.

• Diogo Dalot was out between 16 October and 1 December with a knock suffered playing for Portugal's Under-21 side.