Valencia, Spain: Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will look to keep his scoring touch going when his team visits Valencia today in the Champions League.
After scoring only once since transferring from Liverpool last season, Torres has found the back of the net in two straight Premier League matches.
The Spain striker also set up David Luiz and Juanma Mata in Chelsea's 2-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.
"They are a great team and we know that they are ready for us," Torres said about Valencia. "It's going to be very, very tough."
The crowd at Mestalla Stadium, however, will likely be focused on Mata, who will be making a return to his former club after leaving at the end of the transfer window.
No friends
"I talk to him a lot and am very excited to play against him," Valencia forward Pablo Hernandez said. "But on the pitch there are no friends, so we will try to beat Juanma and his team, and then after the game wish him well."
In the other Group E match, Leverkusen hosts Genk.
Valencia enters the game coming off a 1-0 loss to nine-man Sevilla, its first defeat in 10 games. It drew 0-0 at Genk in their Champions League opener and is looking to avenge two straight losses in Chelsea's last visits to Mestalla stadium.
"It is clear that after the draw at Genk we need points," Hernandez said.
The two-time finalist will be spearheaded by striker Roberto Soldado, who has taken Mata's place as fan favorite with five goals to start this season and 17 goals in his last 15 appearances.
After scoring only once since transferring from Liverpool last season, Torres has found the back of the net in two straight Premier League matches.
The Spain striker also set up David Luiz and Juanma Mata in Chelsea's 2-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.
"They are a great team and we know that they are ready for us," Torres said about Valencia. "It's going to be very, very tough."
The crowd at Mestalla Stadium, however, will likely be focused on Mata, who will be making a return to his former club after leaving at the end of the transfer window.
No friends
"I talk to him a lot and am very excited to play against him," Valencia forward Pablo Hernandez said. "But on the pitch there are no friends, so we will try to beat Juanma and his team, and then after the game wish him well."
In the other Group E match, Leverkusen hosts Genk.
Valencia enters the game coming off a 1-0 loss to nine-man Sevilla, its first defeat in 10 games. It drew 0-0 at Genk in their Champions League opener and is looking to avenge two straight losses in Chelsea's last visits to Mestalla stadium.
"It is clear that after the draw at Genk we need points," Hernandez said.
The two-time finalist will be spearheaded by striker Roberto Soldado, who has taken Mata's place as fan favorite with five goals to start this season and 17 goals in his last 15 appearances.
