Racing Santander vs Valencia preview - Emery warns record-seeking Valencia of tough test

Posted Monday, January 31, 2011 by PA

Valencia coach Unai Emery believes his side will need to be on top form if they want to equal a club-record six successive Primera Division victories when they take on Racing Santander on Monday night.

Los Che started this weekend's fixtures in fourth place in La Liga following their fine recent run of form and are 20 points and 12 places above Racing, who are without a win in their last five matches.

Nevertheless, Emery is anticipating a tough time at El Sardinero, saying: "It (winning a sixth successive game) is an extra motivation, a very nice challenge, but it will not be easy to achieve it because the match is going to be very difficult and we will have to play at a very high level to win.

"They (Racing) are a team who deserve to be higher in the table than they are, but they find themselves close to the relegation zone. We know we're going to suffer, but our goal is to work hard so that we suffer less and less during games."

Speaking about the possibility of recording six consecutive league triumphs - a feat Valencia have achieved four times in their history - winger Pablo Hernandez added: "It would be nice. It's something that's difficult to achieve with the equality that there is in this league and with such difficult opponents.

"I hope we can equal this record. (But) if we win we cannot settle for that. We must think about the following game and trying to take another step forward."

Valencia, who began this round of matches two points behind third-placed Villarreal and three ahead of Espanyol in fifth, will have to do without Spain international Juan Manuel Mata for the trip to Santander due to injury.

Racing's last victory came in the middle of December and they have suffered defeats in their last two matches, albeit in tough trips away to Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona.

The Cantabrians, who will be under new ownership for Monday's match following this weekend's takeover by Indian businessman Ahsan Ali Syed, will be without the suspended Pedro Munitis and injured trio Papakouly Diop, Oscar Serrano and Alexandros Tziolis.