Swansea vs Valencia - Match preview, team news, statistics & analysis

The Match

Swansea come into this match buoyed by the weekend's yearly away win over Fulham. They'll also likely draw confidence from the reverse fixture, where they managed a famous 3-0 victory at Valencia's Mastella. A second win in five days would see the squad's spirits lifted even higher, and with a frenetic fixture list looming a win, and the securing of progression to the next round in the Europa League, is just what the doctor ordered for Laudrup's charges.

Valencia are, fairly obviously, better than they let on when we visited them in September. Since then, they enjoyed a mini-revival of sorts before their form dipped again, and they currently find themselves 11th in the league. They'll be trying to ignore the fact that their away form in Europe leaves a lot to be desired (only three wins in their last 20), however a rousing 3-2 win over St Gallen last time out in this competition will help them believe they're capable of pulling off a result in South Wales. It's worth noting Valencia have already qualified for the next stage of the competition, though whether that will result in them taking it easy you can't say.

Prior Form (Most recent at top)

Team News 

For Swansea, the return to fitness of Pablo Hernandez will come as a welcome boost, though whether he's deployed against his former employers is another matter. Wayne Routledge is still struggling with a calf problem and seems set to miss out, while Michu (ankle) and Garry Monk (knee) remain sidelined. Leon Britton missed the Fulham game with a reported toe injury, but could return with control of the midfield crucial against the Swans' Spanish opposition.

Valencia will be without Ever Banega, who is being rested after a recurrence of a leg complaint. They'll also be without Adil Rami (who Swans fans no doubt hold dear after he was sent off early on in the reverse fixture), as he is training with AC Milan ahead of a transfer in January. As you do. 

Completely guessed lineups

Swansea

Michel Vorm
Dwight Tiendalli
Chico Flores
Ashley Williams
Neil Taylor
Leon Britton
Jose Canas
Jonjo Shelvey
Nathan Dyer
Roland Lamah
Wilfried Bony

Valencia

Diego Alves
Ricardo Costa
Jeremy Mathieu
Joao Pereira
Jose Andres Guardado
Sofiane Feghouli
Dani Parejo
Federico Cartabia
Helder Postiga
Sergio Canales
Pablo Piatti

Statistics & Trivia

• Swansea have lost only once in eight Europa League matches thus far (W4 D3).
• This weekend's win over Fulham was their first win in six in all competitions.
• Valencia have just three wins in their last twenty European away games.
• They have, however, won their last three games in the Europa League.
• Valencia average 55% possession, Swansea 59%.
• Swansea's average pass success this season is 86% - 4% better than Valencia's (82%).
• Swansea also play a higher percentage of short passes (85%) than Valencia (81%).
• Wilfried Bony is joint second top scorer in the Europa League with five goals already in the competition.
• Seven of Valencia's last eight matches have seen at least three goals scored.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Michel Vorm is, as usual, in the press talking about the upcoming match:

"That is why you want to be a professional football player – to play these kind of games. To qualify for the next round of the Europa League would be amazing, if you think about it.

"Three years ago I came here and didn't know what to expect. Now we are talking about playing Valencia at home to go to the next round.

"I think beating Fulham gives us a positive feeling going into that game and now the aim is to go through to the last 32."

http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2013/November/26/uefa-europa-league-preview-swansea-city-v-valencia/?

Michael Laudrup has repeated his desire to see Swansea claim top spot in the group:

"In Valencia, I think we played a great game, but we have to remember they played nearly 80 minutes with a player less. It would be nice to repeat it, but it won't be easy. 

"My players all realise that on Thursday it will be much more difficult to beat Valencia than it was in the first game. Even if it is a draw, we will still try to win this game because we want to be top of the group, so it doesn't change anything."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25128263?

Analysis

One team who've already qualified, and another who can qualify courtesy of drawing their two remaining group matches. Not, perhaps, a billing which would normally result in a festival of free-flowing football, however it's likely that with pride to play for we'll see a very competitive fixture indeed.

Valencia are still in need of a general upturn in form, as for a team of their size and stature to be sitting in eleventh position in the league simply isn't good enough. The Europa League will come as a welcome distraction, especially considering that since losing to the Swans they've gone on to win the next three group games. Victory in South Wales would go a long way in soothing the wounds inflicted by Laudrup's men at the Mastella, and would leave Valencia fans believing they can go far in this competition.

Swansea are still likely to play like a team with a point to prove. Multiple late, late levellers left the South Walians feeling a bit hard done by, and to be honest anything that fosters a bit of a "them against us" feeling in the squad is welcome in my eyes. The ghost of equalisers late seemed to be put to rest against Fulham, so let's hope there's no return to injury-time heartache this time out.

Swansea are likely to rotate, so it's anyone's guess who'll start in a couple of the forward positions. Michu's continued absence means Bony is likely to lead the line, while Routledge's injury means Nathan Dyer & Roland Lamah may continue out wide - though it's distinctly possible Pablo could make a comeback (although I'd say it's more likely to come off the bench). In midfield I'd imagine Leon & Shelvey will come in, while Canas may well retain his spot which would mean for the first time in god knows how long my favoured combination of defensive midfielders would line up alongside each other. With a dedicated attacking midfielder ahead of those two, I see us controlling the midfield against almost any side.

At the back I'd imagine fullbacks Angel Rangel & Ben Davies will be rested for Dwight Tiendalli and Neil Taylor. Both enjoyed an outstanding afternoon's work against Fulham and Laudrup will be keen to ensure they remain as fit as possible with a hectic fixture list coming up. I can't see either Ash or Chico being rested, but you never know...

It's not going to be easy for the Swans to get a result, but we've been threatening to turn a corner for a while and in the last few matches we've seen signs that Laudrup has found a formula which works, and that there's only some fine-tuning remaining before the wins start coming. Victory over Valencia is ideal preparation for this weekend's fixture - the small matter of Man City away. Gulp.

First though, we've got to overcome Valencia. I'm confident, as per usual, but Valencia have conceded two goals in each of their last three games, so I fancy Bony to grab himself a goal or two in another famous Swansea win. Keep a clean sheet, and that'll go a long way in securing the result. Fingers crossed.