Valencia boss eyes third

Posted Tuesday, May 05, 2015 by Foxsports.com

Valencia coach Nuno firmly believes his team can beat Atletico Madrid in the race to finish third in La Liga.

Los Che won 3-1 at home to Eibar on Sunday and are fourth in the standings, four points adrift of third-placed Atletico with three games remaining.

The top three teams in La Liga qualify directly for Champions League football next season.

"The numbers say it's possible for us to clinch third spot," Nuno told the Spanish press. "We are ambitious and we are confident we can win all of our remaining games.

"We are four points away from third spot and we will see what our rivals do.

"I always say that it would go to the wire.

"It's a very difficult competition, with teams that are not making mistakes and this means we have to maintain the pressure."

Valencia last featured in the group stages of Europe's elite club competition in the 2011-12 campaign and finished eighth in La Liga last season.

Los Che travel to the Bernabeu stadium to face second-place Real Madrid on Saturday ahead of a home game against Celta on May 17 before ending their season at Almeria on May 24.

"It has been a long journey," Nuno said. "We have grown a lot in the past months and we want to reach the aim that we had set out to achieve.

"We have already clinched 72 points and we are strong at home.

"We need to keep winning."

Defending champions Atletico face an equally challenging end to the campaign as they visit relegation-threatened Levante this weekend before hosting league leaders Barcelona on May 17. Atletico end the campaign at Granada a week later.