Valencia prepare for Espanyol test

Fifth-placed Valencia host sixth-placed Espanyol on Sunday as both sides look to edge further up the La Liga table.

Valencia face a congested fixture schedule as they play three games in six days, starting with Espanyol in the league before taking on Villarreal in the Copa del Rey and then returning to La Liga action against Levante.

Valencia defender Marius Stankevicius believes his side face a tough test as their busy run begins.

“Espanyol are a young team with hunger for good football,” he said.

“They have a strong coach who is doing well tactically, which you can see on the pitch and in the table. But Valencia have a style of play that is important in Spanish football, focusing on ourselves. It will be about how we can impose our game on them.”

Valencia go into the game having not been beaten in any competition for four games, while Espanyol have lost their previous two league games, including a crushing 5-1 home defeat to table-toppers Barcelona.