Lyonnais vs Valencia preview - Valencia targeting first win at Lyon

Posted Monday, September 28, 2015 by PA

Valencia have only one thing in mind heading into Champions League action on Tuesday and that is to win at Olympique Lyon.

The sides will square off at the Stade de Gerland in Group H and the players in the Spanish outfit believe that after falling in their opener at home to Zenit St Petersburg, they must collect three points to have a realistic chance of progressing in the competition.

Valencia began their group campaign with a 3-2 home defeat to the Russian team, a result that has the Spaniards at the bottom of the pool.

"We didn't start in the best possible way with the home defeat to Zenit," Valencia forward Alvaro Negredo said on his club's official website. "But we have time to correct the situation and qualify for the next round.

"We have our chances and we have to think of ourselves knowing that we face a very complicated game in which we need to give 100 per cent to clinch the three points."

Los Che, who beat AS Monaco in the play-offs last month to reach the group stages of the Champions League, have had a tough start to the 2015-16 season.

Friday's 1-0 triumph over Granada, courtesy of Shkodran Mustafi's goal, was only their second win.

It lifted Nuno Espirito Santo's side to eighth in La Liga.

Lack of goalscoring has been Valencia's biggest problem, with Los Che having found the back of the net just three times in six league games.

"We create lots of chances but we fail to finish them off despite having good players to do so," Negredo said. "I think it's just a question of time.

"Once we put the puzzle together, we will score goals galore.

"The important thing right now is that we win.

"We did so against Granada and now we hope we can give continuity to that result."

Negredo is expected to start alongside Paco Alcacer in Valencia's attack.

Valencia have lost just twice in 11 previous away matches against French clubs.

Lyon, who are playing in the group stages of the competition for the first time since 2011, lost 3-1 at Girondins Bordeaux on Saturday.

It was their second loss in Ligue 1 and left them in eighth place in the standings, eight points adrift of league leaders Paris St Germain.

"We are disappointed all round," Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said on his club's official website. "We weren't up to the level required and we got punished.

"It hurts to concede two goals from dead ball situations but overall, Bordeaux absolutely deserved their victory.

"The Champions League is a different competition but it's never good to lose as you are preparing for it."

Lyon drew 1-1 at Gent in their group opener.

The hosts are without injured pair Nabil Fekir and Rafael.

Valencia travel to France without defender Jose Gaya, who is out with a hamstring injury.

Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan has recovered from a knee injury and has been included in Valencia's travelling party.