UEFA Europa League: Sevilla vs Valencia preview

Valencia visit Sevilla in the Europa League semi-final first-leg on Thursday with high hopes of defeating their former boss Unai Emery. Valencia produced a memorable comeback in the previous round, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Basel by winning the second leg 5-0. Coach Unai Emery left the club in 2012 after securing third-placed finishes in the league in three seasons of four. Juan Antonio Pizzi's Valencia have taken four points from Sevilla in the Primera Liga this season, but Sevilla are very experienced in the Europa League, a competition that they have won in 2006 and 2007. Paco Alcacer was the man of the match in Valencia's remarkable fightback in the quarter-finals, bagging a hat-trick to help his club progress. The 20-year-old forward is determined to do some damage again and eventually get his hands on the trophy. "That is what we are aspiring to and we are putting a lot of hope into this competition because it is good for the players and for the fans," Alcacer said. "If we do not get through it will be because things have not worked out, not because we have not given everything. Once you get here you have to do everything possible to get further. We just need to play the game as if it is our last and get as much as possible out of the away leg so that we can be a bit more relaxed when we play at home." Sevilla are fifth in the Spanish top flight while Valencia are three places below in eighth, but Emery believes the two sides are fairly similar in terms of strength. "Ours are two very even teams in every sense," Emery said. "It would be a mistake to think we're the favourites to go through because of the current Liga standings. Valencia are a great team and our sole objective now is focusing on Thursday's game against them." Sevilla will be without defender Coke through suspension, while Alberto Moreno could join Sebastian Cristoforo (knee) and Denis Cheryshev (toe) on the sidelines.Philippe Senderos (thigh) is a doubt for Valencia, while Diego Alves and Victor Ruiz remain out. Here are the odds for the match at Bet365: Sevilla win - 5/6 Draw - 11/4 Barcelona win - 15/4