Laudrup hoping to cause a Europa League upset

Michael Laudrup believes Swansea can cause an upset in the UEFA Europa League when they meet Valencia.

The League Cup winners were drawn alongside the Spanish side, Kuban Krasnodar and St. Gallen in Group A and face a trip to the Mestalla in their first match on Thursday.

Valencia are widely tipped to do well in the competition having performed well in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League in recent seasons.

Laudrup admits that facing the La Liga side first will be a big challenge, but insists the pressure is off his side and remains confident of causing a surprise.

“We are playing the top team in the group on their home ground, so all the pressure is on Valencia,” he said. “This is only the first of six games, and my experience in these group stages is that the important games are your home games.

“If you win your three home games, then you are through, I think that’s it.

“This is probably the most difficult of the six games we face, so we have a lot to win and not so much to lose.

“But let’s see, I am quite confident, I don’t think the gap between the two teams right now is that big.”

Swansea will be without defender Neil Taylor and Valencia old boy Pablo Hernandez, while Leon Britton serves a one-match ban following his red card against Petrolul Ploiesti in the play-off round.