Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes playing the second leg at the Mestalla could be give his side the edge in their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.
He told club the club’s official website: “It will be a difficult tie but, next to Liverpool, they are the opponents most similar to us.
“The best news is that we are playing away (in the first leg), which was a priority for us before the draw. That can be important, and even decisive.”
“We do not use tags such as favourites, the important thing is to have concentration and to work like we have done in the previous rounds.
“Another important factor will be how we arrive at the quarter-finals because they are a month away, during which time we have four league games, where the confidence levels can go up or down, and there is the possibility of recovering some (injured) players.”
Valencia sporting director Amedeo Carboni admitted he was proud to that Valencia were the only Spanish club left in the competition.
He told Sky Sports News: “It’s the first time Valencia are the only Spanish team in the quarter-final. I am very happy about this. We have many possibilities to reach the final.”
The winners of the two-legged affair will face PSV Eindhoven or Liverpool in the last four, throwing up the possibility of a semi-final reunion with former coach Rafael Benitez.
“The present is more important,” added Carboni. “Winning against Chelsea is very difficult but if we win, it is possible to beat Liverpool.”
Valencia fullback Asier del Horno said he hopes the inside knowledge of his former club Chelsea could prove invaluable.
“It will be great to return and see the people there, but this is a quarter-final and I have to put that to one side and make the most of what I know about the team,” Del Horno told a news conference.
“They were a team to avoid, but it is in our favour that we play the second leg in the Mestalla. They will be favourites so we will be out of the limelight.
“If we remain humble we have a chance to spring a surprise.”
