The clash at the Mestalla is set to be one of the games of the weekend. Valencia host Sevilla in what will be a tightly contested affair, as both teams are determined to finish in the final Champions League place come the end of the season.
As it stands, Unai Emery's Sevilla occupy fourth place with 39 points. The visitors are unbeaten in their last six league games, and have not conceded a goal in their last five. But they were comfortably beaten 3-1 in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey quarter final against Espanyol in midweek.
Although Emery did put out a rotated team for the Copa, with the likes of Gregorz Krychowiak, Carlos Bacca and Gerard Deulofeu on the substitutes bench, it is widely expected that the trio will start the game against Valencia. The Portuguese goalkeeper Beto should also come back into the side, after being rested.
Valencia come into the game on the back of a hard-fought 3-2 victory over struggling Almeria, as the former Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, came off the bench to score the winner late on. The hosts are also unbeaten in six consecutive league games, and were able to end Real Madrid's unprecedented 22 game winning streak when they defeated the European champions 2-1 at the Mestalla.
Much like Sevilla, Nuno's side have also suffered a recent defeat at the hands of Espanyol, as they were knocked out of the Copa after loosing the second leg at the Power8 Stadium 2-0. Although that does bring Valencia a slight advantage, having a whole week to prepare for the game, compared to the few days that Sevilla have had.
When the two sides clashed at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán it finished 1-1. Despite being reduced to ten men after Rodrigo de Paul was dismissed for elbowing Vitolo, Valencia were able to salvage a draw thanks to Lucas Orban. The left-back scored in the 88th minute, just five minutes after coming on as a substitute.
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The hosts will be without Pablo Piatti, who missed Thursday's training session with a muscle injury, but Nicolas Otamendi is expected to recover from a knock to feature in the heart of defence.
Sevilla are still without Stephane Mbia, who is on Africa Nations Cup duty with Cameroon. Nico Pareja is set to return from suspension and slot back into the visitor's defence, with Alejandro Arribas dropping to the bench.