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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
STOKE CITY  Sorenson Shotton, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson Pennant, Delap, Diao, Etherington Crouch, Jerome | VALENCIA  Alves Miguel, Ruiz, Dealbert, Mathieu Feghouli, Albelda, Tino Costa, Aduriz, Jordi Alba Soldado |
Tony Pulis has just the one player sidelined through injury for the visit of the Spanish side, with Mamady Sidibe expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Matthew Upson, meanwhile, is suspended for both ties with Valencia after his straight red card in the loss against Besiktas. The Potters will have one eye on their fixture with Crawley Town in the FA Cup on Sunday, but the 54-year-old boss will most likely look to field a side of youngsters mixed with a touch of experience and will not worry too much in starting a strong team against the La Liga outfit.
Valencia themselves are missing a total of four players, with Hedwiges Maduro, Paco Alcacer, Pablo Hernandez and Sergio Canales all out. Also, with Los Che creeping up behind the faltering Barcelona in the Spanish league, a number of players could be rested as they focus on their domestic exploits.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Valencia have featured in one Europa League final and won it, beating French side Marseille 2-0 in 2004.
- This the is Spanish side’s manager Unai Emery’s (right) third try at the Europa League, after exiting in the quarter-finals on both previous occasions.
- Like Emery, Stoke City are also experiencing their third go at Europe’s second-tier club competition after two dips into the then Uefa Cup back in the 1970s, where both times they were knocked out in the first round.
- This is the first time this two outfits have clashed and the first Spanish side Stoke have faced competitively.
- The winner of a round of 32 tie will collect £250,000 for progressing to the last 16, whilst the overall winner will collect £2.5 million. In comparison, a team that makes the group stages of the Champions League receive £3.25m
- Inter Milan hold the record for most Europa League titles (3) and won their last back in 1998.
- Stoke have only lost one match on their path to the last 32, losing 3-1 to Besiktas in their final group tie.
This will be the more important tie of the two for the hosts as they try to take advantage of their imposing support, but it may not be enough to repel the momentum of the Spanish side who are gunning for Champions League qualification in their domestic league.
Valencia’s squad of seasoned European winners and their experience in the more elite tournament will make it hard for Stoke to hold a lead to take to Spain next week.
Valencia’s squad of seasoned European winners and their experience in the more elite tournament will make it hard for Stoke to hold a lead to take to Spain next week.
Editor's Prediction
Stoke City 1-2 Valencia 
