Peter Crouch in action against Valencia

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Valencia v Stoke City

Stoke travel to Italy on Thursday needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from their Europa League round-of-32 tie with Valencia in order to seal their progress to the next stage.

The Potters impressed in the first leg and were unlucky to go down to a solitary goal, scored by Mehmet Topal in the 36th minute at the Britannia Stadium, the Turkish international netting a 30-yard rocket that gave Asmir Begovic absolutely no chance.

Tony Pulis’ side, who currently occupy 13th place in the Premier League, come into the clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat of Crawley in the FA Cup, a result that ended a run of four successive losses.

Los Che, third in La Liga, suffered a heavy defeat to Barcelona in their last outing but were previously unbeaten in four games, apart from a Spanish Cup defeat to the Catalans at the Nou Camp, having held them to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Mestalla.

Pulis realises the extent of the gulf in quality between his team and the six-time Spanish league winners, but takes Stoke to Valencia with the belief they can keep their European adventure alive.

He said: “We’ll give it our best. They are a top team and I was very, very impressed on Thursday night.

“They have all the tools in their armour to be a top side and they are a Champions League team, really. They’re not a Europa League side.

“There was a step up between what we have played in that competition, but it was lovely to be part of it.

“These are fantastic times at the football club, playing Valencia and the like.

“We’re in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the third year running and it has been a great rollercoaster for us as a football club.”

The Potters will be watched by a large contingent of travelling support who have made the short trip across to Spain’s third largest city.

As many 4,000 travelling supporters, the club’s biggest-ever following abroad, will be in attendance on Thursday hopeful of seeing their side earn a place in the last 16 against PSV Eindhoven or Trabzonspor.