Ancelotti expects stern Valencia test

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished suggestions his side are favourites ahead of their clash with Valencia on Tuesday.

The Ligue 1 leaders go into their last-16 Champions League encounter without Thiago Motta and Thiago Silva and the Italian is expecting a difficult encounter against quality opposition.

“I do not think we are favorites for this game, we’re playing against a team who are very well organised and have very good players,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“Both teams are currently in good form. I think it will be an open game. I don’t think it’ll be a physical game, but tactical.

“We need to show the qualities of character and personality in this type of game. I hope we will do the same thing like we did against Porto.

“The absences of Thiago Motta and Thiago Silva are important but Alex and Mamadou Sakho fared well in recent matches. This team is great because we can do without players like Silva or Motta.”

PSG striker Ezequiel Lavezzi also refused to be drawn into a debate as to who was the stronger of the two sides and said he was merely focused on ensuring his side put on a quality display.

Lavezzi said: “Everyone says we are favourites but we’re not, we don’t think like that. We just try to play good football.

“This match must be played, we did not win in advance.”