IT IS probably the nearest we will get to seeing whether Andy Gray had a point when he suggested a year or so ago that Barcelona and Lionel Messi would struggle on a cold night at the Britannia Stadium. Third in La Liga and twice runners-up in the Champions League, Valencia arrived in the Potteries yesterday for a tie with Stoke that represents a major clash of cultures.

Although Valencia are not in the same class as Barcelona, there is still much to be admired about Unai Emery’s stylish team and their brand of pass-them-to-death football. Indeed of the 32 clubs in the group stage of the Champions League this season only Barcelona and Manchester United had more possession than Valencia.

Stoke’s remarkable success under Tony Pulis over the past six seasons has been built on more direct methods.

This season Stoke have had less possession than any other Premier League team (39.38 per cent), made fewer passes than anyone else (7,282 – 1,000 passes fewer than Blackburn, the next lowest) and played a higher percentage of long balls (20.4 per cent) than the rest of the top flight.

Yet those figures have proved to be a strength rather than a weakness in the Premier League and, judging by the way Stoke have adapted so well to returning to European football after a 37-year absence it would be understandable if Valencia felt a little anxious ahead of the first leg of their last-32 tie tonight.

“I don’t think they will have played against a side like ours,” said Peter Crouch. “We are physical and use that to our advantage and that is maybe something that they wouldn’t have come across in Spain. We will use anything in our power to try to make them uncomfortable.”

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

STOKE CITY (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Huth, Woodgate, Shawcross, Wilson; Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington; Walters; Crouch.

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Guaita; Barragan, Rami, Ricardo Costa, Mathieu; Ever Banega, Albelda, Feghouli, Piatti; Aduriz, Soldado.