Valencia vs Gent - Valencia again without Alvaro Negredo for Gent match
Posted Monday, October 19, 2015 by PA
Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo has left Alvaro Negredo out of his squad for a second straight match, with the former Manchester City striker not included for Tuesday's Champions League game against visiting Gent.
The 30-year-old had started in eight games in all competitions for Los Che, scoring two goals, but he was not involved on Saturday when Valencia claimed a 3-0 triumph over Malaga in La Liga.
Valencia exercised their purchase option on Negredo this summer by acquiring the 30-year-old's sporting rights for 30million euros (B#22m) from City.
Negredo recently claimed that Nuno was playing him out of position and reports in Spain suggest the veteran Spanish forward is being punished for those comments.
However, Nuno said to Superdeporte: "I've read a lot of speculation but all my decisions are sporting and technical ones and I cannot control what is being said."
Without Negredo, Valencia go into their Group H match looking to return to winning ways at the Mestalla stadium in European competition.
Valencia had gone unbeaten in seven straight European games at home before a 3-2 defeat against Zenit St Petersburg in their Champions League opener.
The Spaniards bounced back with a 1-0 triumph at Lyon to climb to second in the standings, three points adrift of pool leaders Zenit after two games.
Nuno liked what he saw on Saturday against Malaga, when Valencia's third win of the domestic campaign helped them climb to eighth in the standings with 12 points from eight games.
"We had to work for the win and we played well," Nuno said on his club's official website. "This game leaves us with a good feeling.
"We still have room for improvement and we need to continue to grow.
"Now we have to be ready for Tuesday's game, which is important."
Paco Alcacer is set to lead Valencia's attack alongside 19-year-old Santi Mina.
Gent travel to Valencia looking for their first group win.
The defending Belgian champions held Lyon to a 1-1 draw before losing 2-1 at Zenit in the last round.
"This is the most difficult game that we will face in this Champions League," Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck said to Marca. "Valencia are the best team in the group.
"If we let them run, they will kill us. It's going to be a challenge for us.
"They are playing at home and I hope my players will not be affected by the atmosphere at the Mestalla stadium.
"Prior to the draw, I had hoped not to meet Spanish clubs, I would have preferred English clubs.
"I've always told my players that we could qualify but we have had a difficult start and we have already given away a few points."
Gent won 2-1 at Mouscron-Peruwelz on Friday to clinch their fifth win on the trot in the Belgian League.
The result lifted Gent to second place, level on 23 points with league leaders Oostende.
The visitors are without defender Erik Johansson and midfielder Brecht Dejaegere, with the former out injured and the latter suspended.
Valencia's Jaume Domenech will play between the posts while goalkeeper Mathew Ryan misses the game with a knee injury.
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