With Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla all kicking off their
Champions League campaign with comfortable wins on Tuesday, can
Valencia and Barcelona follow suit and preserve Spain's 100% record on matchday one? We shall see. Tonight, we're focusing on Los Che as they host
Zenit St Petersburg at the Mestalla. Let's look at both teams' form before team news, shall we? Okay.
So,
Valencia, who knocked AS Monaco out in the playoffs en route to reaching the group stages, picked up their first Liga win of the season on Saturday by beating Sporting Gijon 1-0 away, courtesy of Paco Alcacer's goal. Their first two games ended in draws - a 0-0 away to Rayo Vallecano and a 1-1 at home to Deportivo La Coruna.
On to Zenit now and
Andre Villas-Boas's men, the Russian champions, sit third after a relatively slow start to their 2015 season. They drew 2-2 away to leaders CSKA in a result that ensures they stay six points behind. So things could be going better for them it must be said. Anywho, teams!
VALENCIA XI: Jaume; Gayà, Abdennour, Mustafi, Cancelo; Fuego, Enzo, Parejo; Piatti, Feghouli, Negredo
ZENIT XI: Lodygin; Anyukov, Criscito, Lombaerts, Smolnikov; Garay, Garcia, Danny, Witsel;
Hulk, Dzyuba
VALENCIA SUBS: Yoel, Vezo, Barragan, Barbosa, Gomes, Alcacer, Rodrigo
ZENIT SUBS: Kerzahakov, Neto, Yusupov, Shatov, Dolgov, Fayzulin, Ryazanstev
So, we'll start with the hosts and third-choice Jaume Domènech starts between the sticks due to the absences of Mathew Ryan and Diego Alves. Alvaro Negredo, who scored in their win at Monaco, spearheads the attack.
On to Zenit now and their first XI isn't dissimilar to the one they fielded in several group-stage games last year, with Hulk the danger man, but Danny will be entrusted with the task of creating chances. Behind him you've got Javi Garcia, who will either be brilliant or he'll be sent off. That's my experience of watching him.
Normally we'd do a head-to-head segment here but, well, it's not possible on this occasion. It'd be like doing a head-to-head between Petey in Dumb and Dumber and Gwenyth Paltrow in Se7en. Despite never playing each other, though, we can confirm that Zenit haven't beaten Spanish opposition in their last NINE attempts. Surely that bodes well for the hosts.
Did you know Nuno Esporito Santo and
Andre Villas-Boas are good mates? Yep, their friendship dates back to their Porto days, when Santo was goalkeeping coach and AVB worked in the backroom staff. But it's very much a case of the friendship being on hold, though, and here's what Santo said to
UEFA.com during the week: "We are humble and respect them. André and I are friends. We have talked a lot about football, but in this game he is my opponent."
Villas-Boas, whose team share Group H with Genk and Lyon, is clearly happy to get an away trip to the Mestalla out of the way early on. Here's what he told UEFA.com a little earlier: "The players are ready and prepared. It is a match that everyone wants to play. We are facing the most difficult match we have ahead of us."
So, how did both sides get on in Europe last season? Let's have a look.
Zenit were in the group stages last season, but they finished third in a group comprising of Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen - who advanced to the last 16 - and Benfica. They were third by, like, three points in the end so they weren't exactly unlucky in their bid to reach to the knockouts.
Having dropped into the Europa League, Zenit were going great guns in Europe's secondary competition, beating PSV and Torino before being undone by eventual winners Sevilla in the quarter-finals. That's their European story.
Valencia, on the other hand, were in neither competition last season. Boo! But wait - they were in the Europa League for the 2013-14 season, where they went as far as the semi-final stage, before being beaten by Sevilla, like Zenit last term. Instead of a match tonight both teams may want to just fling darts at a photo of Unai Emery.
PREDICTION! Let's not beat around the bush - Zenit don't fare well against Spanish teams. They're winless in their last nine against Liga opposition and it's hard to see that changing tonight. We're on a 2-1 home win.
Let's see what Twitter makes of this one.
Isa thinks Los Che will hit the right notes this evening as he predicts a 2-0 home win.
Meanwhile, Sergio might have gotten too much sun recently.
Hold the phone. Isa has changed his mind in a dramatic turn of events.
And here come the lads. This is the first time Valencia fans will have heard this music from the 2012-13 season. Enjoy it chaps.
KICKOFF: And we're off. Zenit get us underway in front of a boisterous Valencia crowd Let's go!
Fairly tentative start it must be said. No chances to speak of as of yet, but Valencia certainly seeing most of the ball as one might expect. The fans are certainly in the mood.
An early touch for young goalkeeper Jaume as he coolly collects Anuykov's cross. It's a big night for the youngster so that might settle him down a little.
Hulk has been involved early on but he looks a tad rusty, despite the fact Zenit's season started some two months ago. He's just endured a touch reminiscent of David N'Gog as it trickles out for a throw in. Where's N'Gog these days?
GOAL! Valencia 0-1 Zenit (Hulk)
Wouldn't you know it? Less than a minute after comparing him to David N'Gog, Hulk goes and rifles an excellent low drive into the bottom corner past a helpless Jaume. It's a swift counter-attack, led by Danny, who plays in the Brazilian and he makes no mistake. Fine finish.
Not much of a response by Valencia so far it has to be said. Dare I suggest that Zenit look comfortable. Very comfortable. Early days, of course, but the visitors have started excellently.
BOOING: Igor Smolnikov becomes the first player booked following a rash challenge on Enzo Perez.
Yuri Lodygin looks fiercely uncertain in the Zenit goal so far. He's just come out to claim a routine cross but completely missed it, with Smolnikov on hand to concede a needless corner which, luckily for Lodygin, comes to nothing.
Valencia are starting to exert much more pressure now, with Lodygin having much more to do but it's easy for him as he plucks a few high balls out of the sky. Zenit definitely good value for their lead so far and Los Che not asking many questions.
Danny, who bagged a fine, lung-bursting assist for Hulk's opener, plays a really bad ball for the Brazilian here and it trickles out of play. Less pace on that and the big man might've been in for a second. Valencia boss the possession, but I know which of the two are likely to score the second goal.
Hulk has just threatened a linesman, who initially and effectively told the Brazilian to get lost when appealing a foul. He's a brave bloke this official.
SHOT! Safe hands from the young Valencia third-choice keeper as Witsel drills a shot into his belly. Zenit have been so much more penetrative.
SAVE!Another smart stop from Jaume Domenech now as he keeps out Hulk's rocket! Zenit doing all the pressing now as they step up their search for a second before the break. Ten minutes to go on that front.
Hulk and the linesman are mates again! That's good to see. The big man will look to swing in a cross now...
But it comes to nothing as Javi Garcia is penalied for putting a little too much pressure on Jaume.
SHOT! Hulk continues to make me look rather silly for comparing him to N'Gog a little earlier. The Brazilian does brilliantly to skip past Javi Fuego, before spotting Jaume off his line and going for goal from some 50 yards but his effort lands on the roof of the net. A for effort Mr Hulk.
Four minutes to go and Zenit still well in control of this one, despite the fact there's only one goal in it.
CHANCE! Probably Valencia's best and only chance as Piatti climbs above a few blue shirts to connect with Feghouli's cross, but his header lacks direction as Lodygin makes a comfortable save - far too comfortable.
GOAL! Valencia 0-2 Zenit (Hulk)Pick it out! What a strike from Hulk again. Danny nods a long ball into the path of Hulk, who takes one touch and fires an unstoppable effort past Jaume from outside the box. How does he generate so much power in them? Not skipping leg day I assume but, still, he's a force of nature.
HALF TIME: Valencia 0-2 Zenit
So, part one of the Hulk show is over - but what a part it was! The Brazilian finished off a swift counter attack in fine fashion by drilling past Jaume from just inside the box, but if that was decent then his second was out of this world. With about a minute left in the first half, he latches on to Danny's knock-down before launching a quite ferocious strike past Jaume from outside the box. Hulk by name, the big man is every inch the superhero that Zenit have needed tonight. Valencia have been poor overall. One or two good chances but that was it. It's the Hulk show, folks!
KICKOFF: Right, we're off again at the Mestalla and Valencia make a couple of subs, with Piatti and Fuego making way for Paco Alcacer and
Andre Gomes! Let's go.
There's certainly an improved tempo from the hosts but it remains to be seen if they can break down this stubborn Zenit defence.
OFFSIDE GOAL! Paco Alcacer's finish is slick, but it's ruled out by the linesman, who probably had to raise the flag or Hulk would've shoved it you know where. If you've just joined us, Hulk is having a running feud with one of the linesmen. Just some context.
Still, plenty of reasons to be cheerful if you're a Valencia fan. They look a team revitalised since the break and, as we know, a two-goal lead is dodgy.
I must say - Lombaerts and Criscito have been excellent at the heart of Zenit's defence tonight. They're winning every single aerial duel.
BOOKING: Paco Alcacer goes into the book for a foul on Garcia. Nuno doesn't like it but it looks fair enough.
GOAL! Valencia 1-2 Zenit (Joao Cancelo)
We said a two-goal lead is dodgy and that might just be the building block for a comeback. It's
Joao Cancelo, who cancels out Zenit's two-goal advantage by shooting from a ridiculously audacious angle. Lodygin was anticipating a cross and Cancelo well and truly did him. Fair dues. Game on!
SHOT! Andre Gomes looks for an equaliser, but his long-range effort is over the bar - and probably out of the stadium.
The decibel levels inside the Mestalla has barely dropped since the goal and few would back against Valencia even winning this! They look a totally different team and Zenit's defence has a massive half-hour on their hands.
BOOKING: Witsel, who has the hairstyle of a pimp from the 70s, goes into the book for dissent. There should be no complaints, but there is. He's furious.
CLOSE! This isn't far away at all. Negredo's knock-down finds Parejo on the edge of the box, and his first-time half-volley is always drifting wide, but only ends up missing the target by about five inches. That was a complete guess, but it was very close.
This place really is a cauldron at the moment. If Valencia score another, which they most probably will, then the noise would smash a car window in Sweden.
Jeepers tonight. Cancelo flashes a fierce cross-come-shot into the area and Negredo looks certain to nod it home, but nobody gets contact on it. As good as Valencia have been in the second half, time is running out. I make it 19 minutes.
SUB: Los Che make their final change now as Sofiane Feghouli makes way for Rodrigo.
GOAL! Valencia 2-2 Zenit (Andre Gomes)
They've done it! It's second-half sub Gomes, who skips past Javi Garcia far too easily and, despite the angle being against him, goes for goal and his right-footed effort slips beneath the body of Lodygin en route to the corner! Lodygin has had a mare. He was also questionable for the first. The fans don't care. They're delerious.
GOAL! Valencia 2-3 Zenit (Axel Witsel)
Oh my word. This is why football is so brilliant. Valencia had all the momentum and it seemed like if anybody was going to win it'd be them, but Witsel has an acre of space on the edge of their box and he makes the hosts pay dearly as his right-footed swipe beats Jaume via the post. I'm certain that was their first shot in this second half.
Hulk is down "injured". Even the referee doesn't believe his acting and tries to pull him up. I don't know if you've ever tried to pull Hulk from the ground, but I suspect you'd have better luck pulling up an oak tree. In any case, the Brazilian is been heckled for time wasting, but he's back on his feet now. Ten to play.
Valencia continue to threaten but they've got it all to do now. Zenit are effectively playing a 9-1 formation.
SAVE! Huge from Lodygin, waho redeems himself somewhat with a smart save to deny a frustrated Negredo.
We're coming into the final stretch now. Expect about five minutes of added time due to the visitors' time wasting.
Rodrigo goes for goal from about 30 yards, and it's a waste and it floats well wide. Yep, five to play! Plenty of time.
There's just a sea of blue shirts in the way and Lodygin makes a huge catch here. Three to play.
Los Che still being roared on by their fans but time is certainly running out. Witsel has been superb and Zenit break now. Into the corner they go...
FULL TIME: Valencia 2-3 Zenit
That's it! What a game and we called it early on. Hulk's first-half brace helped the visitors into a commanding 2-0 lead at the break, but a hugely improved second-half performance saw Los Che level up through goals from Joao Cancelo and Andre Gomes. Minutes after they equalised on 73 minutes, though,
Axel Witsel drilled home a third as Zenit survived a major scare and picked up a good win. Fair dues.
