PROBABLE LINEUPS |
VALENCIA Alves Miguel, Rami, Ruiz, Alba Albelda, T. Costa Feghouli, Jonas, Mathieu Soldado | GENK Koteles Ngongca, Vanden Borre, Nadson, Pudil Buffel, De Bruyne, Hyland Tozser Vossen, Barda |
For Valencia, goalkeeper Diego Alves will feature in consecutive games after starting in the 3-2 loss to Real Madrid on Saturday, with Vicente Guaita currently sidelined through injury.
In defence, the team is at full strength, but the midfield area is where the squad has been weakened. Ever Banega is out for the remainder of the group stage after straining ligaments in his knee on matchday four. Sergio Canales will be absent until April after tearing a knee ligament at the end of October, while Hedwiges Maduro looks set to return in February after suffering torn ligaments in his ankle.
In attack, Jonas will play behind Roberto Soldado. The Brazilian came on as a substitute on Saturday after playing two games with Brazil during the international break, but will start on Wednesday.
For Genk, Abel Masuero has not returned to action since a calf muscle injury in training in late October. David Hubert (stomach) and Jeroen Simaeys (broken toe) have both been sidelined for more than a month and look set to miss the game, while Torben Joneleit could be out until April with torn knee ligaments, suffered against KV Mechelen in late August.
DID YOU KNOW? |
- Valencia sit in third place in Group E with five points, coming off a 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their fourth group match on November 1.
- The Spanish sit one point behind the Germans, who play Chelsea in the section's other match.
- Emery's men will secure at least a spot in the Europa League with victory over the Belgians.
- A Valencia win and a draw or loss from Leverkusen would see the Spanish move into second place with one game to go.
- Genk have two points in the group and sit three behind Valencia in third.
- A loss to Valencia would see the visitors' chances of making the last 16 vanish.
- A defeat will also eliminate them from Europa League classification, which is given to each third-placed team in the group stage.
- The first match the teams played in September finished 0-0.
Roberto Soldado should find the net against the Belgians as Valencia march towards the knockout stage.
Editor's Prediction
Valencia 2-0 KRC Genk