Champions League: Inter looking for goals at Valencia in second leg

Inter Milan needs to attack the goal Tuesday at Valencia in order to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League, and that suits the Spanish team nicely.

Photo: Champions League: Inter looking for goals at Valencia in second leg

Valencia held the Italian league leaders to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the second round on Feb. 21 at the San Siro, giving the Spaniards the advantage with two away goals.

"Inter need to go out and score a goal. They don't want a draw," Valencia midfielder Vicente Rodriguez said. "For that we're going to find a lot of space and many opportunities to score."

Inter is hoping the extra pressure will be good for the team.

"In many ways a 2-2 draw is better than a 2-1 win because it means that we have to go over there and win rather than trying to defend a narrow lead," Inter midfielder Olivier Dacourt said. "We know that we can take the game to them and win and we're confident that that's exactly what we will do."

In their last two meetings over two legs in the 2003 Champions League and the 2002 UEFA Cup Inter advanced both times.

"We're going to Valencia to win," Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said. "We're strong and playing with confidence. Everything is in our hands."

Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Livorno Inter's 22nd victory in 26 league games this season. The Milan club is 16 points ahead of second-place AS Roma in the Serie A.

Valencia has no injury problems, with Spain midfielders Vicente and Ruben Baraja returning for Saturday's 1-0 win over Celta after injury setbacks. Defender Asier del Horno also made his debut for Valencia after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.

Inter will be without Patrick Vieira and Esteban Cambiasso, while striker Adriano is still in doubt.

Valencia has lost only twice in 18 matches at the Mestalla stadium this season, where it went 3-0 in the group stage.

"We shouldn't have any fear of Inter," Vicente said. "It's true we're talking about a very strong team, but in these matches the motivation is bigger and concentration also. These are the kinds of games we all like to play."

Though it has had trouble defending leads in the Spanish league this season, Valencia twice rallied at the San Siro. Valencia is third in the Spanish league four points behind leader Sevilla.

"(Against Celta) we had a distinct game, very different from how it will be Tuesday," Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. "All the factors will change. The team is ready for this effort."

Inter midfielder Luis Figo is confident that Inter can advance to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, reports AP.

"They play like a lot of Italian teams," said Figo, who will play his first match in Spain since joining from Real Madrid in August 2005.