The heat is much higher this time

Yesterday the temperature here reached the 80s and for Manchester United, after a fog-delayed flight from England, Valencia could have been on another planet. When Alex Ferguson and his team disembarked it was like stepping into a warm bath.

Just so long as United's renewed Champions League aspirations do not get into hot water when they resume acquaintances with Hector Cuper's ambitious, accomplished side in the Mestalla stadium here this evening (TV3 and ITV; kickoff: 7.45).

For United, who lead their second-round group with maximum points from two games, a draw would be an acceptable result against opponents unbeaten at home in Europe for eight years. At the same time Ferguson emphasised that "we don't want to lose, that's for sure".

With Valencia boasting the best defensive record in this season's Champions League - only four goals conceded in eight matches - a repeat of last year's scoreless encounter when these teams met at a similar stage is a possibility. The circumstances, however, are somewhat different.

Last March, a point apiece guaranteed both teams a place in the quarter-finals. Tonight the Spanish are in more urgent need of a win. Since Miguel Angel Angulo, the Valencia striker quoted over the weekend as saying last season the teams agreed to play out a draw, has denied this is what he meant the matter is best forgotten.

Ferguson did recall yesterday that the players virtually declared a truce in the closing 15 minutes of that match, a common occurrence in these situations, but not one likely to be repeated now.

With a fortified defence, refurbished midfield and extra pace and power up front, Valencia will hope to recall to United's minds the unexpectedly decisive defeats the English champions suffered in Eindhoven and Brussels in the first round, when PSV and Anderlecht beat them 2-1 and 3-1.

Now that Jaap Stam, who missed the entire opening phase, has been restored to fitness and form, United's defence should be better able to withstand a similarly stringent test of its resilience this evening. Or as Ferguson put it yesterday: "I bloody hope so."

This time, the danger to United will come from the combination of speed and aggression that John Carew can give the Valencia attack. An additional threat could come from Pablo Aimar, the 21year-old Argentinian midfielder.

And there will still be a need to curb the creative threat of Gaizka Mendieta, Valencia's inspiration in reaching last season's final.

Ferguson expects another tight encounter. With Teddy Sheringham, rested at Chelsea on Saturday, due to rejoin Andy Cole up front it is hard to believe that United will not get at least one.

Fabien Barthez, recovered from a hamstring problem, will resume in goal. So Ferguson's choice should be the familiar one, with Roy Keane the binding force, David Beckham the delivery boy and Ryan Giggs, who did not train yesterday as a precaution because he has a slight ankle strain, the man most likely to unravel Valencia's tightly knit defence.

Manchester United (4-4-2, probable): Barthez; G Neville, Brown, Stam, Silvestre; Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs; Sheringham, Cole.