Barcelona wary of local rivals

Valencia v Barcelona

Kick-off: 7.45

On TV: Network 2

Barcelona make the short trip down the coast for tonight's Champions League semi-final first leg against Valencia bristling with confidence, full of goals and convinced that they are on their way to Paris later this month.

But Louis van Gaal's side know they will face a tough challenge from a Valencia side that have had the measure of them over recent seasons. Valencia and Barcelona have played 12 times over the last three seasons in all competitions, with Valencia winning six, Barcelona five with just one draw.

But despite the fact that history - recent and not so recent - is on Valencia's side, there is little doubt that Barcelona will start as favourites to win a place in the final at the Stade de France on May 24th.

The Catalan side's thrilling comeback to beat Chelsea in the last round, when they overturned a 3-1 defeat in London to run out 6-4 aggregate winners after thumping Chelsea 5-1 at the Nou Camp, has given the side back their self-belief.

In their two subsequent league games, Barcelona have won 2-0 against Sevilla and 3-0 at Atletico Madrid to move back within two points of faltering leaders Deportivo Coruna, bringing a third successive championship closer.

"If we play as a team then the simple fact is that we're stronger than they are," Dutch defender Michael Reiziger said yesterday. "We haven't had great results against Valencia over recent years, but we did win the last game 3-0 at the Nou Camp and that may just have brought that bad run to an end. Tuesday's game will be different from all the ones that have gone before in any case. There'll be far more tension."

Barcelona have been favourites for the Champions League all season, since strolling through the two group stages with an unbeaten record and scoring 36 goals in the process. But Valencia have also made solid progress this season, remaining unbeaten at home throughout the competition and winning a sensational quarter-final against Lazio.

Barcelona's comeback against Chelsea after their Stamford Bridge scare will mean Valencia will have to exercise caution no matter what the result in their home leg.

Midfielder Gerard Lopez, who scored a hat-trick against Lazio, admitted as much as he prepared for Barcelona's visit. "I'll only go into the second leg fully confident if we win the first game 7-0," said the young Spaniard.

Barcelona are likely to play van Gaal's preferred 3-4-3 system once again as they look for an away goal in the opening leg, meaning Rivaldo playing just behind the front three in a central position. Luis Figo's suspension should mean a place for his young, highly promising countryman Simao Sabrosa on the right side of the attack.

Valencia will recall Argentines Kily Gonalez and Claudio Lopez after they were rested in Saturday's 3-1 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Probable Teams

BARCELONA: Hesp; Reiziger, F de Boer, Puyol; Guardiola, Garcia, Cocu, Rivaldo; Sabrosa, Kluivert, Zenden.

VALENCIA: Canizares; Angloma, Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Farinos, Lopez, Mendieta, Kily Gonzalez; Angulo, Claudio Lopez.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland).