Valencia vs Villarreal preview - Hernandez hungry for third

Posted Saturday, May 05, 2012 by PA

Valencia ensured they will finish in the top four with a 4-0 win over Osasuna on Wednesday and winger Pablo Hernandez is now desperate to seal third place and direct entry to the Champions League next season.

Los Che are currently three points clear of fourth-placed Malaga and need just three more points to confirm their place as the best of the rest behind Real Madrid and Barcelona for a third straight season.

Hernandez told Marca: "The first objective was to be in the Champions League and this is now achieved, but we want the third place. We have it in our own hands. It is clear that it is much better to enter directly without the qualifiers because if you get a competitive team you can be put out. We know that if we win on Saturday we are third."

The 27-year-old is also keen to win in what will be manager Unai Emery's last game in charge after four seasons at the Mestalla.

"Of these four years I am going to be left with positive things that I have learned from Unai and his team," he said. "In football it is very difficult to have a coach for many years in a club. He deserves a good send-off, although clearly every fan is allowed their opinion over the coach or the players."

Roberto Soldado and Jeremy Mathieu have both been ruled out through injury for the hosts, but Sofiane Feghouli does return from suspension.

Villarreal's concerns are at the other end of the table, but they took a huge step towards survival with a 3-2 win at Sporting Gijon on Tuesday and manager Miguel Angel Lotina has said that result has been a great confidence boost to the squad.

He told the club's website, "The team has a lot of confidence right now and this is very important.

"The game against Valencia is precious because it is against a big rival. Logically it will be quite different to that against Sporting. The atmosphere won't be so tense, but the points are important and there will certainly be intensity in our play."

Lotina though could be missing two experienced campaigners as Marcos Senna is a doubt with a hamstring injury and Carlos Marchena is suspended.