Valencia looking forward to hosting Ajax

Valencia coach Rafael Benitez is determined that his side should make the most of their home advantage when they face Ajax in their opening Champions League second phase match on Wednesday.

"We have the advantage of starting and finishing our group matches at the Mestalla and we have to make sure we continue our good form at our own stadium," said Benitez, whose side were unbeaten at home in the first group phase of the competition.

"Ajax are a team that play very good football and have a lot of quality young players in their ranks so what we need to do is to pressure them from the start and deprive them of the ball."

Benitez said while Ajax coach Ronald Koeman's comments that he thought Valencia were a better team than Real Madrid and Barcelona were flattering, he was still taking nothing for granted in their group that also contains Arsenal and Roma.

"All the teams in the group are worthy of respect and we are aware that it is much more powerful than the one we faced in the first phase," he said.

Valencia will be without winger Kily Gonzalez, playmaker Pablo Aimar and midfielder Francisco Rufete through injury.