Valencia defender Hedwiges Maduro has said that the Spanish outfit are favourites ahead of their showdown with AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League tonight.

Maduro, who arrived at the Mestalla from Ajax in 2008, insists that the Eredivisie leaders will provide a tough test for the Spanish outfit, who are coming off back-to-back defeats in La Liga.

"We want to return to winning and this is an important game," he said. "This is a final for us and we are treating it as such. It is an important game for us to show that we are strong.

"We are favourites, I think. AZ are a good team and the leaders of the Dutch league. The team maintain their shape and that will make finding space more difficult. But we still have a good chance of going through."

Meanwhile, Valencia remain in third place in La Liga.